TOOTH WHITENING /BLEACHING

Tooth whitening can be a very effective way of lightening the natural colour of your teeth without removing any of the tooth surface.

Why would I need my teeth whitened?

There are number of reasons why you get your teeth whitened. As a person ages the adult teeth often become darker due to changes in the mineral structure of the tooth, as the enamel becomes less porous and phosphate-deficient. Very few people have brilliant-white teeth, and our teeth can also become more discoloured as we get older.

Other causes:

Tea, coffee, tobacco

Wine and cola drinks consumed in excess

Tetracyclines

Enamel hypoplasia

Fluorosis

Age of the tooth, usually after 50

Chlorhexidine

Women who are pregnant or nursing are always advised against whitening due to it never having been tested, as well as people who suffer from gum disease.

Teeth whitening is also not recommended for people with broken or cracked teeth or cavities in the areas that they want to be whitened.

It's also important to remember that most teeth whitening procedures only work with natural teeth; veneers, crowns and fillings will not change shade with teeth whitening gels.