Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental treatment designed to restore the natural colour of teeth, bringing them back to their original brilliance.
This type of treatment removes the pigments that have built up on the enamel and dentine, which cause discolouration of the teeth.
It is also true that there is a whole range of ‘do-it-yourself’ solutions, such as abrasive toothpastes, whitening pens, whitening kits or natural remedies like sage leaves, strawberry pulp or lemon peel.
These solutions are chosen mainly for budgetary reasons or even because it is thought that a natural remedy might be somewhat less ‘aggressive’ than a professional treatment using chemical products.
In reality, both commercial and ‘natural’ solutions carry risks that are often overlooked, such as acidity and abrasive power.
The risk is that, whilst providing a superficial whitening effect of limited duration, they may cause permanent damage to the teeth, wear away the tooth enamel and erode the dentine.
For this reason, it is important to consult professionals – dentists and dental hygienists – who will assess the best whitening treatment for your teeth.
When should you opt for professional teeth whitening?
Personal habits and lifestyle (consumption of certain foods and drinks, smoking, taking certain types of medication, etc.) cause coloured pigments to build up in the hard tissues of the teeth over time, leading to their gradual yellowing or darkening.
To restore your teeth to their natural colour, it is therefore important to consult your dentist, who, following an examination to check the overall health of your mouth and ensure there are no dental problems, will explain all the steps necessary for the success of this cosmetic treatment for your teeth.
Firstly, for teeth whitening to work, it is important to schedule and carry out a dental hygiene session with tartar removal. This is a crucial step in preparing the teeth for the hydrogen peroxide-based treatment.
This treatment begins when the photo-activating light source (LED or laser) causes the whitening product to release oxygen.
The oxygen molecules are absorbed by the enamel and dentine, breaking down the molecules that cause discolouration of the teeth.
The treatment is carried out over at least two sessions at the clinic and is maintained through a home care regime, during which the patient is asked to wear special dental trays containing a lower concentration of hydrogen peroxide until the shade of white recommended by the dentist or hygienist is achieved.
For further information or to book an appointment, please do not hesitate to contact us!
