Teeth whitening has become very popular over recent years but the cosmetic whitening process uses bleach and that comes with some caveats. In the UK it can now only be performed by a dentist or a regulated dental professional. You can purchase whitening toothpaste and online home kits but most don’t contain a strong enough whitening agent to be effective. Other kits with too strong a bleaching agent destroys the protective enamel causing irreversible teeth sensitivity and gum blistering. So aside from disappointing results and you out of pocket it can be a risky painful process.
Therefore the safest AND most effective way to get your teeth whitened is to see a dentist who provides this service because:
- Your dentist will conduct an exam before performing or prescribing a teeth whitening treatment and help you manage the results of how many shades whiter you can achieve.
- He or she will check for broken or damaged teeth and advise accordingly.
- If your teeth are sensitive the dentist may treat them with a high concentration of fluoride several days before bleaching.
Done correctly sensitivity during treatment can be kept to a minimum without it being painful and only temporary so you get the best smile possible.