How to whiten your teeth
3 min read – Megan Fairhall
Megan Fairhall
Dental Hygienist and founder of LiveToSmile
Introduction
Teeth whitening is safe and not harmful to the teeth if carried out by a dental professional. You can boost the shade of your teeth by up to 7 shades whiter by carrying out professional tooth whitening. Teeth whitening is an affordable alternative to more dramatic treatment such as veneers and can give you a healthy, brighter smile. Article summary
What are the ways I can whiten my teeth?
Many products claim to have a whitening effect. Toothpastes branded as whitening toothpastes can be helpful in buffing away surface stains in combination with your toothbrush, but are unlikely to change the underlying colour of your teeth. Using a product such as a whitening gel is the most effective way to dramatically change the colour of your teeth.
Is tooth whitening safe?
Teeth whitening has been shown to be a straightforward treatment with very few side-effects, provided the individual carrying out your whitening has been trained to carry this out. Teeth whitening can only be carried out by either a dentist, dental hygienist or dental therapist under the prescription of a dentist. You will need to be assessed by your dentist prior to any whitening procedures to ensure you are dental fit and healthy.
How does it work?
There are two ways that your dental professional can provide tooth whitening. Using at-home gels or providing light activated whitening that is carried out in a dental surgery.
1. Home Whitening Trays using Zoom! take home gels
2. In office Zoom! LED whitening
Will it hurt?
Some sensitivity is normal however this can be reduced dramatically with the addition of desensitizing agents. Zoom! take home gels have a unique desensitizer known as ACP that is shown to reduce sensitivity without compromising on result.
Key take out
Philips Zoom! whitening gel contains safe levels of hydrogen peroxide, removing yellow stains in the deeper layers of the teeth for a long lasting result. Teeth whitening with a dental professional is the only safe and effective way to gain results. In addition, to help maintain a healthy white smile, ensure you see your dental hygienist for regular cleaning and polishing of the teeth. If you are interested in professional whitening, you can find out more here.
Clean that
tongue
AM: Clean for 60 secsClean that tongue
AM: Clean for 60 secs
Click
Spray
Scrape
Tip: Remove bad breath bacteria that settle overnight by cleaning your tongue first thing.
Brush those
teethAM + PM: Brush for two minutesBrush those teeth
AM + PM: Brush for two minutes
Fact: Acidic breakfast foods can weaken your enamel for about 45 minutes after you've eaten.
Tip: Brush before breakfast, and rinse with alcohol-free mouthwash after you've eaten.
Blast that
plaquePM: Floss between your teethBlast that plaque
PM: Floss between your teeth
Load
Aim
Fire
Tip: 40% of each tooth is hidden by its neighbor. Remove plaque from between your teeth before you brush, so your toothpaste can work its magic.
Replace that
brush headEvery 3 monthsReplace that brush head
AM: Clean for 60 secsEvery 3 months
Fact: As your bristles wear out they start to remove less plaque.
Tip: If your blue reminder bristles fade before three months of use, it's time to replace your brush head.
Whiten that
smile
In office or at homeWhiten that smile
In office or at home
Fact: Over four million patients whitened to a beautiful, white smile with Philip Zoom!
Tip: Special occasion coming up? Whitening can give you a brighter, more confident smile.
