Why You Should Always Consult Your Dentist About Tooth Whitening Treatment

In October 2012 the EU passed a directive. It specified that all tooth whitening products that contained or released up to 6% hydrogen peroxide can be used. But only as long as they are sold to dental practitioners. That the patient has been examined by a dentist to make sure that there are no dental issues. That the patient needs to be over 18 years old. Finally, the treatment should be overseen by a dentist or dental technician.

Tooth whitening products that can be bought over the counter can only contain less than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. This is such a small dose that it will not really worth paying the extra cash. This toothpaste is not going to make much impact on the colour of your teeth.

Why You Should Always Consult Your Dentist About Tooth Whitening Treatment

The new legislation means that it is no longer legal to have your teeth whitened at a beauty salon. Beauticians lack the experience and dental knowledge that dentists have trained for so many years to acquire.

Therefore the only place you can receive tooth whitening treatment is in a dental practise. Either by the dentist or a specially trained dental hygienist. Tooth whitening seems to be a simple task but there is a  corrosive nature of hydrogen peroxide. This means that a lot of damage can be caused if it is not applied correctly. Only a dentist can determine if your teeth and gums are healthy enough to withstand tooth whitening treatment.

At Simplyteeth we use the Phillips Zoom Tooth Whitening System which is 33% more effective than other methods. During the first consultation, and your teeth are considered healthy enough to whiten, an impression will be taken of your mouth. Then a protective tray can be made. The tray will be used during the procedure to protect your lips and gums from getting hurt. The clip below shows us carrying out the Tooth Whitening treatment in our own dental practice.

If you would like to consult your dentist about making an initial appointment to see if your teeth are suitable for tooth whitening please contact us here.

You can find out more about Teeth Whitening by reading our long-form blog post entitled ‘Teeth Whitening – everything you need to know‘. This contains much more detailed advice and guidance about all aspects of the teeth whitening procedure and process.