Like hair and skin, teeth vary in colour. Some are yellower or darker than others, even when they are quite healthy. Teeth tend to get darker as people get older. Teeth sometimes become darker if their roots have been damaged or diseased, and the ‘nerve’ has ‘died’. Tooth colour can be very effectively lightened with Hydrogen Peroxide (bleach), used on either the outside or the inside of the tooth.
Tooth bleaching is safe as long as the bleach doesn’t touch your gums and burn them. Dentists use a special jelly bleach. A trained dental professional should only carry out Tooth Whitening.
Where the ‘nerve’ of a tooth has died (through damage or disease) and the tooths root have been filled, bleach is put inside the tooth, under a removable tray or temporary dressing. This can take from a few days a week. There are two ways or bleaching the outside of the teeth. One takes place at home and the other in the dentist’s surgery.
Home bleaching works like this:
Bleaching in the surgery works like this:
For both techniques, your dentist will make a note of your tooth colour using model teeth in different shades before they treat you.
Occasionally bleaching can cause your teeth to become more sensitive to hot, cold and sweet things. Should this occur, stop bleaching for a night or two if you are using the night guard bleach, and use desensitising toothpaste. If the problems persist, see your dentist.
Bleaching improves the appearance of your teeth without removing any of the natural tooth surface. Bleaching is a better option than a crown or veneer if you want to lighten the colour of healthy teeth, as the placing of crowns and veneers involves changing the shape of the tooth.
We are offering teeth whitening for £230 across our practices until December 30th! Get in touch with your nearest Clear Dental to find out how.
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