Teeth Whitening

Last updated: 27th February 2024

What is teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening involves using special gels to brighten the colour of your teeth and make them whiter. It is one of the easiest and simplest ways to make your smile pop. When done properly, it is completely safe, it doesn’t harm your enamel and won’t cause any pain.

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What is the best way to whiten your teeth?

Professional home whitening has been shown to have the best whitening results for the longest period of time. It involves using prescription peroxide whitening gels in custom trays overnight for a period of 2-4 weeks. Your teeth should remain white for a period of several years by simply doing 2 nights of ‘top-up’ treatment every 6 months.

Over the counter products are cheaper but the results will not be as good because they don’t contain enough peroxide and they need to be used very regularly.

Professional in-surgery whitening is the quickest and most expensive option, however, in order to have a good lasting effect, it needs to be combined with home whitening anyway. It’s a good option if you have an event coming up quickly.

Over the counter products

You can buy whitening toothpaste, gels and pastes from supermarkets or online.

In the UK there are strict guidelines on what level of peroxide can be sold in products without a prescription, so all of these products will contain very low levels of peroxide. What this means is that these products can not change the colour of your teeth.

The majority of these products make your teeth look whiter through a combination of stain removal and dehydrating your teeth but your teeth will not stay like that for long and you will need to continuously use the product to maintain the results.

Professional home whitening

Professional home whitening has shown to be the most effective way to whiten your teeth for good results and longevity.

The process involves making whitening trays that fit tightly around your teeth and using some form of peroxide gel for a period of 2-4 weeks every night (the routine can be altered to be done in the day also).

Read more about professional home whitening here.

Professional in-surgery whitening

Professional in house whitening (a lot of people call this Zoom whitening) is done by a dentist in the surgery. They will apply the gel to your teeth and place an LED light to activate the gel for a period of 60 minutes.

This method of whitening is usually more expensive and works a lot faster than home whitening but has the drawback of fading away quite quickly.

Many dentists who do in surgery whitening will also advise using some home trays after the treatment to ensure longer-lasting results.

Common questions about whitening

Does whitening hurt?

No, you may get some sensitivity whilst whitening (professional whitening) but you won’t experience any pain.

Is whitening safe?

If done properly, yes teeth whitening is completely safe. It doesn’t damage your enamel and your dentist will make sure your trays fit well enough to keep the gel from flowing out. If you put too much gel in the tray it may irritate your gums but they will heal quickly.

Unlike what people think, whitening doesn’t significantly strip away the enamel of your teeth. To compare, an entire course of teeth whitening does the same amount of ‘damage’ as drinking 1 can of coke.

What is in whitening gels?

Whitening gels contain carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide as well as other ingredients to keep the gels fresh and active. Some gels will also contain de-sensitising agents for your teeth.

What % peroxide should I use?

This depends on your previous whitening experience and your dentist. Don’t focus too much on which gels you have as each dentist will work in different ways but usually, if it’s your first time whitening then 10% carbamide peroxide will be ideal. Low concentration gel over a long period has the best long term effect. Higher-strength gels can be saved for top-ups.

How much does whitening cost?

This varies between dentists and what products they offer. Home whitening can range from £250 - £550 and in-office whitening can be £500-£800.

How do I choose where to get my teeth whitened?

Ask to see some of the dentists’ previous cases and if you like the results and the way they work, choose them.

Can I go to see a beautician to have my teeth whitened?

In the UK it is illegal for anyone who is not a registered dentist to carry out teeth whitening. Beauticians are either going to be using over the counter products that you could buy yourself or sourcing their gels illegally which means there is no way to guarantee their safety. If something goes wrong you won’t be protected as you would be with a dentist.