Professional Teeth Whitening: What Treatments Are Available?

The idea of having a Hollywood smile is never a dull one. A bright, white smile is more attractive, more welcoming, and – as many patients report after a teeth whitening procedure – makes you look years younger. It’s no wonder people undergo professional teeth whitening prior to first dates, wedding days, staff photo days, interviews, or any situation where they need their smile to do the talking.

Why Do Teeth Become Stained?

While stained teeth is mostly a sign of poor oral care, ageing is also a large reason for a fading sparkle – simply because the older we get the more enamel wears away, which is our main line of defence protecting us from stains as we grow. In addition to ageing, some of the top reasons for stained teeth include:

• Smoking tobacco
• Tea and coffee
• Red wine
• Cola
• Dark coloured fruit juices
• Tomato-based sauces
• Curry ingredients with large levels of pigmentation
• Balsamic vinegar
• Soy sauce
• Beetroot

Many items on the list are guilty due to the fact they contain tannins (as do many natural foods and drinks) which are known to cause unwanted tooth stains. Top tannin culprits also include:

• Berries such as blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, cherries, pineapples, lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, guava, pomegranate, grapes, cantaloupe, and honeydew
• Some vegetables and grains such as squash, rhubarb, cereal grains, legume seeds, walnuts, and almonds
• Dark chocolate
• Cinnamon, clove, and other whole spices

Considering the many diets people commit to, avoiding tannins altogether seems impossible, especially if you already avoid dairy, gluten or lactose. So put your diet first, and professional teeth whitening second!

What You Can Eat and Drink To Avoid Stained Teeth

• Drinking herbal tea or green tea rather than black tea or coffee
• Water or milk after meals to rinse
• Using a straw with cold drinks or fizzy drinks
• Chewing gum, stimulating saliva which cleanses your mouth
• Crunchy fruit or veg like apples, carrots and celery for a natural tooth scrub
• Eating strawberries and bananas
• Eating yogurt or cheese

What Kinds Of Professional Teeth Whitening Are Available?

Professional teeth whitening will almost always include a bleaching agent like hydrogen peroxide to remove unwanted, deep stains and make teeth an overall whiter shade. This method contains higher levels of peroxide than the home-whitening kits available over the counter, which gives a much stronger result.

Another method is laser teeth whitening, or the use of LED lighting to accelerate the whitening agent, like we do here at Smile More Solihull. UV has also been explored but is becoming a thing of the past due to concerns over burns or gum tissue damage.

What is the Whitewash Teeth Whitening Procedure?

You have the choice of either the in-house treatment or the at-home treatment. Both take the same amount of time, however you get more for your money by choosing the in-house method.

We always recommend a consultation to understand your current issues and challenges, as well as a full Scale & Polish to remove plaque beforehand – without this, the teeth whitening treatment won’t provide as thorough a result.

We develop a custom-made plastic mouth tray that fits snugly over your teeth. Once you’ve added the whitening gel to the tray, it’s simply worn overnight or for a few hours during the day, depending on what’s recommended to you. Results are seen over around 2 weeks and your teeth will appear whiter and brighter. The effects can last from months to years, so stick to our advice to get the most out of your money – and if they fade earlier than you’d hoped, singular top-up syringes can be purchased and saved for the days leading up to your next special occasion.

Prices And What To Expect

Prices Of Teeth Whitening In Solihull

The Home Kit, which includes three syringes, costs £360. The In-House Method includes a Home Kit and costs just £450. If you’d like to buy a singular syringe to top up your whitening, this costs just £30 per syringe.

The in-house teeth whitening method consists of three lots of gel being applied and then accelerated with the LED accelerator, Blue Laser. Prior to any in-house treatment, we make sure all patients are comfortable and won’t experience any discomfort during the procedure.

The Downsides To Teeth Whitening

The results from teeth whitening can make an incredible difference to your smile – there’s no doubt about that. But like many of the good things in life, overuse can see the quality compromised. As with any professional teeth whitening method, you’re putting extra pressure on your enamel through the bleaching process, and overuse can lead to tooth erosion, which raises the risk of stained teeth in future.

You can leverage your teeth whitening over time so enamel has a chance to strengthen again once weakened, but note that it will not grow back if lost. If you’re concerned about weakened enamel becoming a problem, either for yourself or a child, please consult our team.

Keeping Your Smile White

So you’ve got your teeth as white as you planned and they’re looking great! Now it’s time to protect your investment. Here are a few things you can do to help your new smile continue to shine:

• Reduce your junk-food sugar intake
• Avoid food and drinks that are high in tannin
• Drink less coffee
• Avoid red meats
• Quit smoking or chewing tobacco
• Brush twice per day and floss regularly
• Avoid too many acidic foods

If you’re looking for professional teeth whitening treatments in Solihull, we can guarantee affordable pricing, crucial teeth whitening advice and the finest patient care – all within our state-of-the-art, family-run dental practice. Get in touch today to begin your teeth whitening journey with a free consultation.