Do Whitening Toothpastes Really Work?

Or is professional teeth whitening locally in Bedford a better decision?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the amount of TV advertisements for the product, our patients here at The Dental Centre Bedford often ask us whether tooth whitening toothpastes really work? The answer to this questions has to be that they do, but with a very big BUT!

Whitening toothpastes may attempt to whiten teeth in two ways. The first of these is by including an abrasive ingredient which can help to remove surface staining from the teeth. However, if you brush too hard, over time this can cause damage to the tooth enamel and eventually lead to sensitivity and decay.

The other way in which they work is by lightening the inner part of the tooth which darkens with age. However, as the whitening ingredient is a form of bleach, there is a significant restriction on the amount of it allowed in toothpastes. This amount will, quite frankly, make little difference to the colour of your teeth. So the use of these toothpastes may be useful to extend the time between professional whitening treatments, for example, but if your teeth are discoloured and you are hoping that these toothpastes will resolve it, disappointment is almost certain to follow.

Professional teeth whitening

So, what is the most effective way to whiten your teeth? The answer lies in having it done professionally by your local dentist. We would suggest the following stages.

Dental hygienist – There are two good reasons for visiting the dental hygienist at our Bedford practice for anyone wishing to have whiter teeth. Firstly, it is important, before applying any cosmetic procedure, that the patient has a healthy mouth. Having your teeth and gums cleaned of any hardened bacteria will improve the condition of your mouth and reduce the risk of gum disease.

Secondly, as part of the professional clean performed by the hygienist, much of the surface staining on your teeth will be removed. This is safer and faster than using a potentially abrasive toothpaste.

Teeth whitening procedure – Although the whitening ingredient that we use at The Dental Centre Bedford is similar to that found in many toothpastes, the quantities that we are allowed to use are much larger as we can apply them safely and in a very controlled way. This means that you can achieve an improvement in the whiteness of your teeth by up to eight shades which is significantly more than you can expect with any toothpaste.

This procedure is both safe and fast acting, plus it can be repeated when the effects start to wear off.

If you are unhappy with the colour of your teeth, why not arrange an appointment with one of the cosmetic dentists at The Dental Centre Bedford? We will be pleased to discuss the best way to help you to achieve your aim of a brighter, whiter smile. We can be contacted by ‘phone on 01234 819868 or by using the form on the contact page of our website.