Common Myths About Teeth Whitening
Some misconceptions about this popular cosmetic dental procedure.
If you ask any cosmetic dentist what their most popular procedure is, they will nearly all tell you that it is teeth whitening. At Mike Allen’s Dental Practice, we are no exception and many Burton patients come to us for this affordable and rapid smile enhancement.
Teeth whitening is popular due to its relatively low cost and the fact that patients see an almost instant improvement. Despite the fact that it is a widely used and popular treatment though, a number of myths still surround it – we take a look at some of the more common ones below and give you the real facts:
Teeth whitening is painful – This is not true, provided that it is done by an appropriately trained cosmetic dentist, and not by an unlicensed outlet (teeth whitening can now only legally be performed by a dentist). A patient’s mouth will be fully protected to avoid any risk of burning from the bleaching agent.
It always causes sensitive teeth – There is an element of truth in this in that a small number of patients do experience temporary sensitivity following the procedure. This usually only lasts for a few days though before returning to normal.
It damages the enamel of your teeth – Provided it is used correctly, no evidence has been found of this happening. Damage could be caused if the solution used was too strong, as has happened in the past at some unethical high street shops which opened to ‘cash in’ on its popularity. Use an experienced dentist such as Mike Allen to ensure that the risk of the happening is minimal.
It creates ridiculously white teeth – Again, not true. Whilst it is possible for some to have brilliantly white teeth, many patients opt instead for various levels of whiteness, from one slightly whiter than their current teeth’s colour to varying shades of a brighter whiteness.
It’s unnecessary; I can just use a whitening toothpaste – Partially true. Yes, you can use a whitening toothpaste but don’t expect to see any significant results from it. The reality is that whitening toothpastes only have a small amount of the active ingredient in them, for health and safety reasons. They can be useful to top up following a professional treatment, but, on their own, their effects are very limited.
We are always happy to answer patient queries and do understand that you may want questions answered before going ahead with this or any other cosmetic dental treatment. If you would like a consultation with one of the dentists at Mike Allen’s Dental Practice in Burton to discuss this, please call us today on 01283 845345.