Harris Family Dental Practice

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

There are a number of reasons why you might get your teeth whitened. Everyone is different; and just as our hair and skin colour vary, so do our teeth. Very few people have brilliant white teeth, and our teeth can also become more discoloured as we get older. Your teeth can also be stained on the surface through food and drinks such as tea, coffee, red wine and blackcurrant. Smoking can also stain teeth.

The 'active ingredient' in the product is usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. As the active ingredient is broken down, oxygen gets into the enamel on the teeth and the tooth colour is made lighter.

Tooth Whitening will only lighten natural tooth substance. It will not work on any types of false tooth such as fillings, dentures, crowns and veneers. If your dentures are stained or discoloured visit your dentist and ask for them to be cleaned. Stained veneers, crown, fillings, bridges or dentures may need replacing; again ask your dentist.

You can help to keep your teeth white by cutting down on the amount of food or drink you have that can stain teeth. Don’t forget, stopping smoking can also help prevent staining.

Many kits sold over the counter or on the internet in the UK do not contain enough of the whitening product to be effective and some kits may contain mild acids and abrasives which can cause damage to the teeth and gum tissues and are not recommended.