If you’ve noticed that your teeth are looking on a little on the dingy side, then you might want to consider tooth whitening. In Bournemouth, here at Queens Park Dental, tooth whitening is one of our most popular cosmetic treatments and many of our patients use it prior to a special occasion. Some people are put off from getting their teeth whitened because they’ve been misinformed or heard bad reports from others. We thought we’d use this blog to untangle the facts from the myths so you can make an informed decision. So here goes:

• Tooth whitening is for anyone – Although tooth whitening in Bournemouth is a great option for many adults it’s not recommended for under 16’s. In addition it isn’t suitable for pregnant women or those who are breast feeding. Tooth whitening needs to be carried out on a healthy mouth, so if you’ve got gum disease, worn enamel, untreated fillings, exposed roots, or any other dental issues, then these will need to be addressed prior to tooth whitening.

• Tooth whitening is painful – You may have heard that tooth whitening is painful but that’s certainly not the case. However, we would urge people to take the advice of their dentist before going ahead with over the counter tooth whitening products. Anyone with gum disease or any unknown dental issues, could experience heightened sensitivity which usually goes away once they stop using the products. Prior to teeth whitening, Bournemouth dentists will first carry out a full dental check to ensure that a patient has good oral health. Whitening can cause mild tooth sensitivity but usually this is short-lived. Many professional whitening products now use lower levels of hydrogen-peroxide (which can cause sensitivity) which still achieve excellent results.

• Teeth whitening is permanent – Teeth naturally darken with age and this happens irrespective of whether you whiten your teeth or not. As a result, it will be necessary to repeat the tooth whitening procedure from time to time to achieve continual whiteness. How long tooth whitening lasts depends on whether the person reverts back to drinking such things as coffee and red wine, or continues to smoke, all of which cause teeth to become stained

• Tooth whitening gives a Hollywood smile – Many people expect their teeth to appear whiter than white like a celebrity Hollywood smile. In reality, teeth are not bright white but more of a pale ivory shade. The take-home bleaching trays we give our patients will lighten their teeth by between 2-8 shades within a couple of weeks for a look which significantly improves their appearance and is reasonably easy to maintain.

If you’d like to learn more about teeth whitening in Bournemouth and find out if it’s suitable for you, then why not come and speak with Queens Park Dental, your friendly local dentist. You can call on 01202 303322 to book an appointment or contact us via our website at www.queensparkdental.co.uk. Besides cosmetic dentistry, we also cater for dental emergencies, please do not hesitate to contact us today.