If your smile doesn’t shine as bright as it once did, you may consider teeth whitening treatments as a way to bring back the sparkle. Teeth whitening removes staining and discolouration, giving you a smile you can feel confident about sharing with the world. There are lots of treatment options for whitening your teeth. Along with the professional teeth whitening options available at Canon House, you may be curious about shop-bought DIY treatments. 

Before you decide to go for the cheapest option, it’s important to understand the true cost of shop-bought teeth whitening; not only are they less effective, but they can also be very dangerous. In this guide, we’ll discuss why you should avoid DIY whitening treatments and how you can get the best results in the safest possible way with Enlighten. 

What Causes Stained and Discoloured Teeth?

Before we look at the current whitening options available on the market, let’s quickly touch on what causes your teeth to become stained or discoloured in the first place. Although your teeth might seem perfectly smooth, they’re not. On the surface of your teeth, you have microscopic pores that trap tiny particles, causing stains. 

Stains typically accumulate as a result of your lifestyle. If you’re a smoker, you can expect to see a build-up of staining, even with the best oral hygiene routine. But everyday food and drink can also cause stains. While coffee, tea, red wine, and sugary drinks are common culprits that cause stains, even some healthy foods like dark berries or tomato-based sauces may also leave their mark. 

A yellowing of your teeth can often occur due to the natural ageing process. As we age, the white enamel on the surface of our teeth starts to thin. When this happens, the darker dentin below shows through. 

Does Whitening Toothpaste Work?

When your teeth are discoloured, your first instinct might be to use whitening toothpaste. Typically, these kinds of toothpaste include an abrasive ingredient such as activated charcoal designed to lift stains from your teeth. Although charcoal can help to a small degree, using this type of toothpaste too much can wear away your enamel, weakening your teeth. 

Are Shop-Bought Whitening Treatments Safe?

Bleaching ingredients in teeth whitening treatments are subject to strict regulation. For shop-bought treatments, the legal limit for hydrogen peroxide is 0.1%. Dentists, however, can use products with up to 6% hydrogen peroxide. Even at low dosages, improper administration of peroxide products can pose a significant risk. The active ingredient can burn and blister your gums if it gets on them. DIY teeth whitening has the potential to seriously and permanently harm your teeth. 

While the law controls the use of peroxide in whitening treatments, there are unscrupulous manufacturers and traders out there who sell illegal treatments. These often have very dangerous levels of peroxide, which will almost certainly do more harm than good. The at-home professional whitening treatment that we use is called Enlighten. Before using Enlighten, we’ll give you a check-up to ensure your teeth are healthy enough for treatment. If there’s any damage, we’ll recommend dental repairs first. 

Once we’re happy, you can receive whitening, and we’ll take impressions of your teeth for a custom-made whitening tray. This mouthguard is designed to securely hold the whitening gel against your teeth, similar to a bespoke mouthguard. 

Do Shop-Bought Whitening Treatments Work?

With such low doses of peroxide, shop-bought whitening treatments aren’t effective. In comparison, Enlighten whitens your teeth by up to 16 shades, achieving a B1 Vita shade — the most natural white possible. You’ll wear your whitening trays for around two weeks to get these results, but we know you’ll love your new smile. 

What About Beauty Salon Whitening?

If you see a beauty salon offering teeth whitening, this might seem tempting. After all, you’d assume that it’s professional treatment. Salons that offer this service are breaking the law and have no qualifications or licenses. Dentists, however, receive considerable training and are regulated by the GDC. Although you may use Enlighten from the comfort of your home, our support and guidance will ensure the treatment is not only successful but also perfectly safe. 

Professional Teeth Whitening at Canon House

Don’t take a chance with your smile. With professional teeth whitening using the leading treatment, Enlighten, you’ll have a bright and beautiful smile without the risk.

Call today to arrange your Enlighten teeth whitening consultation.