The Benefits Of Having Your Teeth Whitened Professionally In Ipswich

Cheaper alternatives might be tempting but probably won’t achieve the whiteness you hoped for….

White teethWho doesn’t want to have whiter teeth? Not many people it would seem, judging from the popularity of the various teeth whitening treatments that are currently available.

Few would dispute that an attractive white smile beats a dull and discoloured one, hands down, any day. The question though is how to choose the best method available.

It can’t have escaped our Ipswich patient’s notice that there are now many ways to whiten your teeth without necessitating a visiting to see a dentist. From simple teeth whitening toothpastes to more complex (and expensive) DIY teeth whitening treatments, it can be difficult to choose, and price is often the deciding factor. Whilst this is an understandable choice, especially for those on a budget, it often isn’t the right one.

Tooth whitening toothpastes

This is perhaps one of the most common ‘complaints’ that we hear at the Foxhall Dental Practice. It usually goes something like this: “I don’t understand it. My teeth are still dull and discoloured and I’ve been using a tooth whitening toothpaste for months now”. The fact is that this method of teeth whitening is unlikely to come anywhere near achieving the whiteness you had hoped for.

The reason for this is that whilst these toothpastes do contain an active whitening ingredient, they do so in very small quantities. Whitening agents, such as those used at our Ipswich dentist, are very powerful and, in the wrong hands, can be potentially dangerous. It is for this reason that very little of it is allowed in toothpaste form.

There is also potential harm in using some of the toothpastes that claim to whiten teeth as, possibly to compensate for the small amount of whitening ingredient allowed, they sometimes include additional abrasive elements that aim to remove surface staining from the teeth. Whilst it might be effective in doing this, it can also erode the enamel which protects your teeth from sensitivity and decay; particularly if used over-zealously.

‘Over the counter’ teeth whitening kits

More effective than toothpaste are the DIY teeth whitening kits that can be bought at pharmacies around the country. As these are specifically used for the purpose of whitening teeth and are unlikely to fall into the hands of inquisitive toddlers, the level of whitening ingredient allowed in these is significantly higher. This is good, and bad, news. Good because it will obviously whiten your teeth more effectively but bad because it also increases the risk of harm that you could do to your teeth and gums.

The fact is that these products should not be thought of as cosmetic in the same way as, say, lipstick should. The whitening ingredient used is a form of bleach and, as we know, bleach can cause potentially painful and unsightly burning. One of the biggest issues of these kits is that the trays that are provided and which the whitening ingredient sits in before being fitted over the teeth, are not produced for each individual user. This means that the trays may not fit as securely as they should and a leakage of the bleaching agent could cause it to come into contact with the gums, potentially causing irritation.

It is also worth mentioning that these should never be used without having a thorough check up at your local dentist first. Using these with teeth that are cracked or decayed can only add to the problem and brings us to one of the reasons why it is best to have your teeth whitened professionally by a dentist.

Professional teeth whitening – the smart choice

Not only is having a teeth whitening procedure at our Ipswich dental clinic both more effective and safer, but it takes less time too. In fact, you can enter our practice and leave with whiter teeth in just a single hour.

Our dental team will make sure that your lips and gums are protected to minimise any risk of burning and will then apply a whitening gel to your teeth. This is then activated using a special light and left for an hour. Once the hour is up, the gel will be removed and your teeth cleaned, leaving you with teeth that are many shades whiter than before.

The gel that we use also contains a much higher level of whitening ingredient than both of the previous methods. This is because dentists have the training and knowledge to apply this safely and can therefore ensure that you receive both a safe and effective treatment.

If you have dull or discoloured teeth and are wondering which way to whiten them, why not come and have a chat with one of our dentists first? You can arrange an initial teeth whitening consultation with us by calling the Foxhall Dental Practice on 01473 258396.