Why You Should Always Opt for Professional Teeth Whitening Treatments

If you have a healthy diet and practice good oral hygiene, you can enjoy the benefits of having stronger, whiter teeth. However, not everyone has sparkling white teeth — teeth can stain over time, after all.

There are many reasons why teeth become stained: Drinking fluids that stain, including tea and coffee, may end up giving the enamel a yellowish or brownish cast. Smoking and certain types of medications may also be a culprit. Genetics is also a factor — some people simply have more yellowed teeth than others do, even if they otherwise follow a healthy dental hygiene routine.

Luckily, it is possible to improve the appearance and colour of the teeth through teeth whitening treatments. Fresh Dental offers teeth whitening in London to patients who wish to have a whiter, more dazzling smile.Fresh Dental strongly recommends that you always opt for professional teeth whitening treatments.

While there are ways to keep your teeth healthy and white at home by brushing your teeth regularly and avoiding enamel staining foods, some people may find DIY treatments tempting.However, most dentists would recommend that you should stick to treatments provided by dental practitioners.

DIY Treatments can Damage Your Enamel

One popular teeth whitening trend is the use of ‘activated charcoal’. Activated charcoal is simply a type of charcoal that is processed to form fine pores for absorption. The general belief is that activated charcoal can scour the enamel clean and absorb any staining substances. Some people brush their teeth with activated charcoal powder in an effort to whiten it.

Unfortunately, there is no medical or scientific backing for this claim. In fact, activated charcoal may not only be ineffective but also damage the enamel. Charcoal powder may be too abrasive and actually create small scratches that weaken the enamel and make the tooth more prone to developing cavities.

Another common remedy is to gargle with some form of acid, such as vinegar or lemon. While an acid gargle does show some whitening properties, undiluted vinegar can actually end up stripping the tooth of enamel, again, leaving you susceptible to tooth decay.

Others will try bleaching their teeth by applying hydrogen peroxide to the teeth. While some professional tooth whitening products do contain hydrogen peroxide, DIY solutions are often too harsh.

Home hydrogen peroxide whitening solutions often exceed 33%, which is far above the legal limit that should be used on the teeth. For comparison, home teeth whitening kits often have a 0.1% solution of hydrogen peroxide, while professional solutions do not exceed 6%.Brushing with hydrogen peroxide can also burn the sensitive gum tissue, causing blistering and bleeding.

Why a Professional is Always the Best Choice

Professional teeth whitening at a trusted dental practice is still the best choice. Someone who is experienced and knowledgeable about the process will perform the entire whitening process. They can whiten your teeth safely without damaging the enamel or the gums.

They can also recommend at-home kits that have a safe proportion of whitening agents.

Do you want to experience whiter teeth for yourself? Contact Fresh Dental today.