Tooth Whitening

Tooth colour varies from person to person - just like skin and hair colour. There are a number of ways that teeth can be made to look whiter.

Why do teeth get discoloured?

There are many reasons why teeth can become discoloured. Simple things like drinking tea, coffee, red wine or other food and drink with strong colourings can cause it. Smoking is another major cause, which can result in a yellowed appearance to the teeth.

As people grow older their teeth can become darker naturally. Tooth decay, fillings and tartar build-up can also all contribute to discolouration.

Teeth have nerves and blood vessels inside them. If these nerves and blood vessels are damaged (this can happen because of decay, or if the teeth are knocked) the tooth may get darker.

Some types of staining can be caused by diseases or medicines. For example, if a type of antibiotic called tetracycline is given to children whose teeth are still developing, their adult teeth may form with a yellow or greenish tinge.

There are many simple ways to improve the appearance of discoloured teeth. Visit your dentist or hygienist to have your teeth scaled and polished on a regular basis. This involves removing any tartar that has built up. Your dentist or hygienist will also give you advice about preventing tooth decay.

Regular toothbrushing, stopping smoking and cutting down on strongly coloured food and drink will help stop stains returning.

Whitening toothpastes are slightly abrasive, which may help to remove surface staining. However, they do not alter the natural shade of your teeth.

Your dentist can also give you advice about replacing your metal fillings and crowns with tooth-coloured ones.

Professional tooth bleaching

There are several different ways that dentists can bleach your teeth. These are separated into external techniques (where the bleach is placed outside of the tooth) and internal techniques (where the bleach is placed inside the tooth). They are described in more detail below.

External bleaching

This means that the colour of the teeth is lightened by placing a bleaching gel on the outer (external) surfaces of the teeth. Once again, using bleaching gels in this way may not work for certain types of discolouration, such as that caused by metal fillings or damaged blood vessels inside a tooth. There are two ways to do external bleaching.

• "Home" bleaching . Firstly, your dentist makes the rubber mouthguards so that they fit your teeth precisely, and secondly, the bleaching gel is stronger so it tends to be more effective. Your dentist will give you tubes of bleaching gel and instructions on how to put the gel in the mouthguards. You will need to wear the mouthguards for a few hours each day. It may take a few weeks to achieve the colour that you want. Your dentist will give you detailed instructions.
• In the surgery - this is also known as "laser" or "power" bleaching. Your dentist will put a rubber seal around your teeth to protect your gums. Then, the bleaching gel is painted onto your teeth and a special, bright light is pointed at them. This light speeds up the whitening process. The procedure takes two hours.

How long will it last?

The whitening effects of different bleaching methods can last for a few years, but this varies from person to person. Your eating, drinking, smoking and toothbrushing habits may have an effect on how long the treatment lasts.

It's important to bear in mind that bleaching doesn't always result in the whiteness that you expected. The results vary from person to person and depend on the shade of your teeth before bleaching. For this reason, it is important to discuss all the possible options for improving the appearance of your teeth with your dentist before you make a decision.

Will bleaching damage my teeth?

All dental treatment carries a risk of side-effects, which are the unwanted, but mostly temporary effects of a successful treatment. Potential side-effects include sensitivity of the teeth to hot and cold, a sore throat, tender gums and white patches on the gums.

These side-effects are more likely to occur during or immediately after "laser" bleaching and should disappear after a few days. Contact your dentist if the symptoms persist.

Who shouldn't have bleaching?

There are some instances when a dentist may recommend that you do not have bleaching. For example if you have decay, this should be treated before starting any whitening treatments. Similarly, your gums should be healthy, so if you have any gum disease this should be treated.

If your teeth are extremely sensitive to hot and cold food or drinks, or if there are lots of fracture lines on your teeth, bleaching may not be recommended.

Some types of staining (eg tetracycline antibiotic staining) do not respond to bleaching as well as others. Bleaching, if successful, can take longer on tetracycline stained teeth.

Bleaching won't work on false teeth, crowns, veneers or fillings (including tooth-coloured fillings). Instead, your dentist may be able to replace these with lighter ones.

Bleaching is not recommended for children whose teeth are still developing or for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

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