Best teeth whitening options

The colour of your teeth, for some people, can be one of the first things they notice about your smile. That is why teeth whitening can be one of the most effective and easy ways to completely transform your smile. Our teeth discolour over time as we consume our daily coffees, teas, glasses of wine, and for those of us who smoke tobacco, all of these contribute to staining our teeth. Stains mainly affect the upper surface of our teeth, however, they can penetrate the lower layers of the tooth enamel too, which is when a youthful smile can begin to look very lack-lustre. Discover from a professional cosmetic dentist, Dr Mark Hughes, how teeth whitening can help to restore your beaming smile and what his whitening treatment of choice is.

What can professional teeth whitening do for me?

Whilst there are a plethora of at-home teeth whitening treatments readily available on the high street, the whitening treatments offered by Dr Hughes are superior for several reasons:

• They do more than just remove food particles from your teeth, as they penetrate the stains on the deeper layers of your teeth.
• They do not result in uneven shades or barely noticeable changes.
• They offer far more precision and effectiveness, with a guaranteed long lasting result.
• There is far less risk of gum irritation and sensitivity with professional whitening treatments.

The teeth whitening treatments offered by Dr Hughes and his team contain highly effective bleaching agents that penetrate the enamel, improving your teeth colour by many shades. This can often be done in a one-hour session, but for the very best results “combination” whitening systems are recognised as the ‘best in class’.

Watch: Are teeth whitening toothpastes bad?

Who isn’t suitable for teeth whitening?

Unfortunately, individuals who have more severe stains, lost or badly eroded tooth enamel, can benefit from other restorative treatments, such as porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are very thin shells, custom-made for your teeth. They are bonded to the fronts of your teeth and can correct discolouration, gaps, shape and misalignment.

What teeth whitening system does Dr Hughes use? Enlighten®

There are many teeth whitening systems available, but Dr Hughes uses the Enlighten® system for his patients. Enlighten® is one of the best whitening treatments in the UK currently and is praised for its ability to lighten teeth by up to ten shades, producing results that, with proper maintenance, can last for many years. This treatment restores your tooth enamel to the most natural white shade on the Vita scale. The Vita scale is a shade index used by cosmetic dentists globally to differentiate between shades used in teeth whitening.

What makes Enlighten® such an ideal option is that the serum used is suitable even for individuals with tooth sensitivity caused by other whitening methods, and produces powerful results with just a low concentration of bleaching agent. Additionally, Enlighten® teeth whitening is administered both in the dentist’s office, as well as from the comfort of your own home; this “combination” delivery produces the very best results.

Read more: Getting a Hollywood smile

How can I manage my sensitivity after teeth whitening?

Although Dr Hughes uses whitening treatments designed to accommodate patients with tooth sensitivity, he recognises that most individuals will want advice on how to avoid possible sensitivity following teeth whitening. The following steps will alleviate any discomfort experienced:

• Use less whitening solution during each treatment
• Use whitening solution less frequently
• Do not consume very hot or cold foods right after treatment
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush
• Use toothpaste and mouthwash designed specifically to reduce tooth sensitivity (e.g. Sensodyne® and Colgate® Pro-Sensitive)

If you are interested in finding out more about teeth whitening treatments, make an appointment with an expert to discover what your options are.