Teeth Whiten­ing Myths Busted

With so many whitening products available, it can be difficult to know which ones are going to deliver whiter teeth and which ones will just leave you with a lighter wallet.

To help patients to understand which whitening methods are going to be effective, we’ve put together this teeth whitening myth busting guide.

Myth #1: You can brush your way to whiter teeth

Brushing your teeth is certainly good for your oral health and it might help to remove some surface stains, but it won’t reach the stains that are trapped deep in the dentin. Professional bleaching is the only way to address intrinsic staining.

Professional whitening works by penetrating the tooth and breaking down the bonds between staining particles, making them much smaller particles. These smaller particles are better at reflecting light, which makes the teeth appear whiter and brighter.

Myth #2: Whitening strips are a gentle way to whiten teeth

Like brushing, whitening strips might be able to deliver results on a surface level, but the whitening effects won’t reach the deep-set stains. There are no over-the-counter whitening kits that can deliver real results, as the chemicals are not strong enough to penetrate the tooth. The only safe and effective way to tackle these stains is with dentist-prescribed whitening products.

Myth #3: Salon whitening is perfectly safe

You may have seen beauty salons cropping up and specialising in teeth whitening. Only a GDC-registered dental professional can legally administer teeth whitening products, so these salons are either operating illegally, or they are using products that are not strong enough to deliver significant results.

If you’re interested in teeth whitening, the best option is to speak to your dentist for a safe and effective treatment.

Myth #4: Teeth whitening is permanent

Teeth whitening is highly effective for removing decades of staining, but these stains can return as you enjoy the same food and drink items. Once you have custom whitening trays from your dentist, you can apply top-up treatments to help keep your teeth looking pearly white.

Myth #5: Whitening works for everyone

While teeth whitening can be very effective for removing stains from food, drink and lifestyle habits like smoking, it won’t be useful in all cases.

There are some dental stains that will not respond to whitening chemicals, and repeating treatments could lead to irreversible damage to the enamel. This includes dental staining from certain medications and due to dental trauma. In these cases, we’ll often recommend alternative treatments such as veneers or crowns to help conceal the discolouration.

Curious about teeth whitening?

If you’d like to explore this cosmetic treatment, book a consultation with our team today. We can guide you through the process of achieving whiter and brighter teeth without risking damage to your teeth or gums. We can also recommend alternative treatments if whitening won’t be effective for you.