Teeth whitening or bleaching is a cosmetic dental procedure that uses hydrogen peroxide to lighten the colour of the teeth. It can be done as in-office bleaching or at home, using bleaching trays made by the dentist.

The in-office bleaching method involves applying a protective cover to the gums, then a bleaching gel to the teeth and activating it with a cold / plasma light. This protective cover for the gums helps prevent teeth sensitivity.

The home bleaching method involves using bleaching trays custom-made by the dentist, which are filled with a bleaching gel, and worn for a specified period of time as prescribed by the dentist.

To maintain the whiteness of your teeth after bleaching, it’s important to avoid certain foods and drinks that can cause staining such as dark-coloured fruits and juices, coffee and tea, red wine, colas, beets, soy sauce, curry and dark chocolate to name a few.

To keep your teeth looking light in colour after bleaching, it is also important to brush and floss your teeth regularly to remove any food particles and stain-causing substances that may be stuck between the teeth. If you are not in the position to brush having had teeth-staining food or drink then rinse your mouth out with water. This is better than nothing if you can´t get to your toothbrush.

Your dentist can give you more tips to help you maintain your teeth. Book a dental appointment to see if you are a candidate for bleaching.

Contouring and reshaping teeth is a cosmetic dental procedure that can involve aesthetic grinding to change the shape or the length of one or more teeth. The reshaping of teeth may also involve building up a tooth with composite to improve the overall appearance.

Contouring and reshaping teeth is done:
1. to remove small imperfections
2. to correct uneven or irregularly shaped teeth, especially on the edges
3. to correct excessively pointed, chipped, crowded or crooked teeth
4. to correct minor fractures, especially on the edges of the front teeth
5. to improve the overall appearance of the smile.

It is important to note that this procedure is mostly used for slight teeth corrections. More severe cases may require other treatments such as orthodontics, crowns or veneers to accomplish the desired results.

There are many procedures available to create a beautiful natural looking smile and still maintain good oral health. It is important for you to decide on the results you would like to achieve. It is also important for you to know what is possible to do.

Your Prosthodontist (Specialist in Dental Prosthetics) can help you decide. Call for a dental examination to assess what is needed and what is possible.

You are spoiled for choice if you choose to whiten your teeth. There are many approved products on the market both sold at a pharmacy and those available from your dentist. As long as you follow the directions carefully they are both safe. From the wide array of choices many teeth whiteners are fairly effective and do just as it says “on the tin”. You must remember though that it takes an extended period of time for teeth to become noticeably whiter using an over the counter product as it will not contain peroxide, the agent that actually bleaches teeth.

What are your teeth whitening options?

Whitening strips

Effectiveness: On average, you can expect to see results in about a week. Naturally this is individual and will depend on the level of teeth discoloration, the amount of teeth staining food and drink you consume and your level of oral hygiene.

Ease of use: Whitening strips are very easy to apply. One treatment is composed of two strips. Teeth whitening strips are good choices for those looking for a fast solution to enhance their smile for a special occasion, but if you are looking for more radical results something more long-lasting may be ideal.

Whitening toothpaste

Effectiveness: This appears to whiten teeth slightly by getting rid of stains such as those caused by drinking coffee/tea, smoking or eating tooth staining foods like curry, soy and ketchup. Whitening toothpastes, however, can’t change the natural color of your teeth or lighten a stain that goes deeper than a tooth’s surface. When used twice a day, whitening toothpastes can take anywhere from two to six weeks to make teeth appear whiter, therefore, it is not a dramatic change. Those whitening toothpastes that contain blue covarine can have an immediate effect as the paste adheres to the teeth giving the illusion of whiter teeth.

Ease of use: As one of the simplest options you use it no differently than you would your usual toothpaste. Keep in mind that whitening toothpastes typically contains abrasives that polish the teeth. As whitening toothpastes are typically designed to maximize cleaning and minimize wear on tooth enamel, remember to follow manufacturer recommendations.

If you’re considering using whitening toothpaste, look for a brand that has been approved by the FDA or the EU.

If you want a longer lasting effect and want your teeth to be whiter than toothpaste or whitening strips can deliver, then you might consider Home bleaching or In-office bleaching.

Home Bleaching

Effectiveness: The dentist would first clean your teeth as it is important to start with teeth that do not have calculous or stains. You maximize your bleaching in this way. The dentist then takes an impression of your teeth and uses it to make custom-made trays that fit only your teeth. The customized trays ensure that the bleaching material stays in contact with the teeth, which is necessary for maximum effect. It also prevents saliva from coming into contact with the bleaching material which can dilute it causing it to be less effective.

Ease of use: A small amount of bleaching material is placed in each tray which you then wear for 90 minutes over the span of a week or less, depending on how much lighter you want your teeth. Many people see a difference in their teeth after the first session, but the more you use the gel the lighter your teeth will become. You usually need to bleach for a week or less.

We suggest that you do the bleaching after you have brushed and flossed for the evening and know that you are not going to be eating or drinking anything before going to sleep.

In-office Bleaching

Effectiveness: As above, the dentist needs to be clean the teeth before the bleaching procedure, after which a protective material is placed on the gum line to protect the neck of the tooth from becoming sensitive. Whitening gel is placed on the teeth and then activated by plasma light (a very intense blue light) to help break down the stain in the micro porosities on the teeth.

Ease of use: This is done in a single visit.

Remember teeth whitening is not a permanent fix to lighten teeth. Over time, teeth will become darker again as a normal progression of aging and as a normal process of living. We will continue to eat and drink teeth staining foods like soy, tea, coffee, red wine and curries to name a few. When that happens all you need to do is to repeat the teeth whitening process to bring the teeth back to the color you like.