Tooth Whitening - What you need to know!

A bright healthy smile can make a huge difference to your confidence, therefore it’s not surprising that achieving a whiter smile is so popular.

You only need to click online to see celebrities endorsing anything from ‘charcoal toothpastes’ to ‘oil pulling’, or walk down the high street to see a salon advertising ‘professional tooth whitening’. How do you know what works, and where to begin?

What are the risks?

First of all - lots of people still believe that tooth whitening can be carried out in a salon, and although it is still offered by many up and down the country, the General Dental Council (the independent regulatory body for dental professionals) define tooth whitening as a practice of dentistry - stating it should only be carried out by a qualified dental professional.

Tooth whitening is the process of bleaching the teeth to a lighter shade, therefore it’s incredibly important that your teeth and mouth are healthy before you begin any treatment. This can only be assessed by a dental professional.

Not only is it illegal, but carrying out tooth whitening if you aren’t registered with the GDC as a dental professional can have serious consequences - those carrying out whitening won’t have the right training and knowledge to help should something go wrong - leaving your teeth and gums at risk of permanent damage.

What about home kits?

Home tooth whitening kits can also carry risks, such as increasing the sensitivity of the teeth and, as most kits don’t contain enough whitening product, they can also be ineffective.

What about whitening toothpaste?

If you are looking for a whitening toothpaste your dentist will be able to advise you on one which also contains the recommended amount of fluoride needed to keep the teeth healthy.

When carried out by a qualified dental professional tooth whitening is a simple and effective procedure which can offer great results to brighten your smile. Visit our smile gallery to view our before and after smiles. If you are thinking about tooth whitening and want to find out more about the options available Queensway can offer a free consultation with a dentist. Book your free consultation online or call us on 01642 554 667.

You can also visit the GDC website to read their FAQ about tooth whitening

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