In recent years teeth whitening has become incredibly popular. Everyone is doing it, and there are even companies selling tooth whitening kits online. But with this popularity comes a lot of questions, and most of the time these questions are left unanswered. We are here to go through a few questions and clear up the misconceptions that people have around those pearly whites.
Will whitening make my teeth sensitive?
We only use Phillips Zoom whitening gel with a concentration of 6% which should reduce the risk of sensitivity. However like all things, each person’s teeth are different and some may become sensitive after one treatment; however, some may never become sensitive.
If your teeth do become sensitive after using whitening gel, we recommend that you use Sensodyne toothpaste to help reduce the effects, although other brands do offer toothpaste to help with sensitivity.
How long will it take for my teeth to become white?
Again this is dependent on the person. Every set of teeth are different and how porous your teeth are will affect the whitening time. If you apply the gel every day for the recommended 1-2 hours and stop drinking tea, coffee and other staining drinks, stop smoking and eating staining foods then your teeth will ultimately whiten quicker than someone who continues to drink tea and coffee and continues to smoke and eat staining foods. Usually, if you follow the do’s and don'ts, results will be seen within 2 weeks.
Will my teeth stay white?
Again this depends on diet and oral health. If you avoid anything with staining properties your teeth will stay whiter for longer. We do however recommend the top up kits for people who want to maintain their smile. Although we do not recommend overusing the teeth whitening kits as this could have adverse effects on the teeth in the long term.
How does it work?
Well, Phillips Zoom is the only brand to offer the power of 3!
- Amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP)
- Potassium Nitrate
- Fluoride
This minimises the risk of sensitivity, minimises post-treatment fade back and gives teeth a lustrous glossy sheen.
ACP whitening gel is applied to teeth during treatment, ACP clusters fill open dentinal tubules, reducing sensitivity and then the ACP crystallizes into a new coating of Hydroxyapatite which rebuilds enamel and adds shine.
If teeth whitening is something that you are interested in, contact our practice for a free consultation and we can talk over any questions and create the perfect treatment plan for you.