Does tooth whitening damage your teeth?

We’d all like to have slightly whiter teeth, not necessarily “Hollywood” white, in fact, this is a look I try to actively avoid for my patients unless they specifically want it. Just a brighter, healthier-looking and more youthful smile is what we like to go for.  As my friend once put it, “I’d like to have whiter teeth, but I don’t want anyone to know I’ve had them whitened”. 

Tooth whitening has become a really simple and commonly performed procedure but I still get asked regularly whether it’s actually safe and I'm very glad every time somebody asks this question. Unfortunately a lot of the "cosmetic" dentistry you can see and find nowadays, can cause irreversible damage to the teeth and this is something we always want to avoid.

Does bleaching your teeth damage them?

Simple answer: no, so long as your teeth are healthy and it’s overseen by a professional. 

Tooth whitening and a veneer replacement for a patient at Smiles in Tandem

I’m topping up my own whitening at the moment, I’ve whitened the teeth of many members of my family and close friends and I wouldn’t dream of providing any treatment for my family or any of my patients, if I thought it would cause any harm. 

The active ingredient in tooth whitening gel is hydrogen peroxide which breaks down into oxygen and water. It’s the oxygen that binds to the staining and lifts it out of the enamel, restoring them back to their natural whiteness. What this means is we’re getting you back to a naturally white smile, not one that’s going to blind oncoming traffic. 

As you can see for this lovely patient who wanted her old chipped veneer placing, whitening her teeth hasn't made them look unnatural, it's just lifted out the staining from tea and coffee resetting them to a healthy-looking natural whiteness, on which we've based her new veneer, significantly brightening her smile.

What are the downsides of tooth whitening?

The main drawback of whitening is that it can make your teeth a little more sensitive after you’ve done it for a day or two. I think of this as the whitening gel opening up the pores in your teeth, removing the staining, but also letting the cold in a little bit more too. 

Discolouration will build back up over time in your teeth, and how quickly this happens depends on how much staining food and drink you eat. If it can stain your clothes, it can stain your teeth. 

Remember, we’re only resetting them back to their natural whiteness by lifting out the staining and it’s difficult to predict just how white your teeth will go beforehand. 

Do I really need a dentist to do my tooth whitening?

You can legally buy dental products containing hydrogen peroxide over the counter, but unfortunately it’s not strong enough to have a significant impact on the colour of your teeth. There are other options than hydrogen peroxide for whitening but generally speaking, they’re either not safe, not effective, or simply very abrasive, which wears away the stained enamel rather than whitening it. 

Most of our tooth whitening treatments are performed by our dental hygienist and therapist now, not necessarily a dentist, but it’s important that’s it’s done professionally if you’re using full strength hydrogen peroxide as well need to make sure the teeth are healthy and the gums are protected. 

Can I whiten my teeth if I’ve got gum disease or tooth decay?

No, it’s really important that the teeth and gums are healthy before you start whitening your teeth. This is one of the reasons why it’s important for a dental professional to oversee your treatment. Whilst whitening doesn’t damage healthy enamel, it can lead to significant problems if you’ve got cavities or gum inflammation. 

Is there an age limit for tooth whitening?

We only provide tooth whitening for adults, so the lower age limit is 18 years. Younger teeth have bigger nerves in them and this could cause more sensitivity. There is no upper limit for tooth whitening. In fact, because whitening works by lifting out the staining in the enamel, as a general rule, the older you are, the more staining you’ll have built up, and therefore the better whitening will work. 

How is tooth whitening done?

We have used Boutique whitening products for several years with great results for our patients, even if I do think the packaging is a little garish.

Once we’ve made sure your teeth and gums are healthy, we take a 3D scan of your teeth and gums (no more horrible moulds in your mouth). From these we get your bespoke whitening trays made, designed to seal around your teeth and gums. We’ll then show you how to apply the whitening gel into the  tray and then into your teeth, and away you go. You repeat this process at home as many times as you like until you get to a colour you’re happy with. 

Most people will do this about ten times, though you can stop after five if you’re happy, or keep going if you want them to be whiter. If you get some sensitivity, you stop, let the teeth rest for a day or two, then carry on. 

How long will tooth whitening last?

It really depends how white you want to keep your teeth and how much staining food and drink you consume. I top my own whitening up every couple of years. As my whitening trays still fit, I just get an extra tube or two of gel to bring them back to the shade I want.

It really is that straight forward and you’re never too old to do it, in fact the more time you’ve had to build up that staining, the better it’s likely to work. It’s not about being vain, or wanting pearly white teeth, but feeling a little more confident that you’ve got a brighter, healthy, natural-looking smile.