Benefits of Teeth Whitening

While this treatment was once thought to be expensive and only suitable for the rich and the famous, many people are now investing in their smiles to feel more confident.

Teeth whitening is a very accessible treatment that can dramatically improve your appearance and help you to feel more confident. It can remove decades of staining from items like tea, coffee, red wine and certain spices.

If you’re looking for teeth whitening in Essex, it’s essential to go to a professional. While teeth whitening is very safe when it is handled by a professional, there are risks to your oral health if the treatment is misused. Professional teeth whitening will also guarantee the best possible results for your smile, without the risk of increased sensitivity or uneven whitening.

What is teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening carried out by experienced dentists in Benfleet involves bleaching your teeth to make them lighter. Your teeth might seem solid, but they actually have tiny holes which can collect staining particles. These build up to make your teeth appear dark, yellow, brown or dull.

You can’t get rid of these stains with brushing alone, as they are absorbed deep into your teeth. Teeth whitening works by breaking down the bonds between the staining particles so they can be flushed out of your teeth.

It is a form of cosmetic dentistry that should only be performed by a dentist or another regulated dental care professional, such as a dental hygienist or dental therapist, on the prescription of a dentist.

Some beauty salons offer teeth whitening, but this is illegal if there's no dental professional present, and it may put your oral health at risk.

How does teeth whitening work?

The most common form of teeth whitening or teeth bleaching uses special trays that are made to fit your teeth. These trays are filled with a whitening gel and then left on, usually for a few hours in the day or overnight.

The gel contains whitening agents that penetrate deep into the tooth and break up the bonds between the staining particles. Once these bonds are broken, the staining particles can be flushed out of the tooth.

Some teeth whitening systems also include an in-office treatment that uses a special light to accelerate the whitening process and achieve results much more quickly. In general, teeth whitening will take a minimum of 2 weeks before you see results.

It’s far better to carry out this treatment gradually over a few weeks rather than trying to complete it all at once. This is because the treatment will temporarily open the pores in your teeth to help flush out the staining particles. This can make your teeth temporarily more sensitive if the chemicals are too strong or if they are left on for too long.

Professional teeth whitening will strike a balance between achieving visible results while also protecting your teeth.

What are the benefits of teeth whitening?

Some of the benefits of teeth whitening are:

• It improves your appearance: this is a very good way of improving your appearance and one of the main reasons people choose to whiten their teeth at Benfleet Dental Centre.

• It boosts self-confidence: Teeth whitening can improve a person’s self-confidence as looking good mostly has some influence on how one feels.

• It’s very affordable: Teeth whitening at Benfleet Dental Centre is very affordable and carried out by professionally trained dental care professionals and due to its affordability it is a popular treatment for improving our patient’s teeth. We usually have special offers on teeth whitening see our special offers page.

• Improve your oral health: We find that patients who invest in their smiles are more likely to take good care of their teeth. It can help to inspire you to make better food and drink choices and it could help you to remember to attend your dental checkups.

Does teeth whitening hurt?

When done correctly under dental supervision, there should be no pain associated with teeth whitening. There is a slight risk of increased sensitivity if you are not used to teeth whitening. This should pass soon after the treatment as the pores in your teeth close up again.

Another risk factor for teeth whitening is that it is possible to over-whiten the teeth. This can result in damage to the enamel and discolouration that will not be able to be removed with whitening. It can also cause permanent sensitivity. The teeth could also take on a translucent quality which cannot be reversed.

The final risk factor for teeth whitening is if the whitening gel gets on your gums. This can lead to burns. This is why it is important to use custom trays designed just for you by your dentist. You should also follow all instructions when whitening your teeth so you don’t get the whitening gel on your gums.

These risk factors can all be avoided by simply choosing professionally supervised teeth whitening. A dental professional can help you to manage your teeth whitening to ensure you don’t damage your oral health.

Who is not suitable for teeth whitening?

There are some cases of discolouration that cannot be fixed with teeth whitening. If your tooth discolouration is caused by a loss of tooth enamel, you might not be able to achieve the kind of teeth whitening transformation that most people hope for. This kind of discoloration should be addressed with treatment like veneers or composite bonding.

The same goes for discolouration that is the result of damage or decay. If the tooth pulp has died, this can turn the tooth darker. Teeth whitening won’t help to address this as it can only help with dental staining.

Finally, if your discolouration is the result of medications or fluorosis, teeth whitening won’t be effective.

We want you to have realistic expectations about what teeth whitening can achieve, as this will help to ensure you are completely thrilled with the results. If you’re not a suitable candidate for teeth whitening, we can offer alternative treatments that might be better suited to your needs.

How can Benfleet Dental Centre help?

If you’re curious about teeth whitening and want to know how this treatment could work for you, book a consultation today. We can explore the treatment options and determine if you are a suitable candidate for teeth whitening.