Confused about teeth whitening

[SpoonBaloon]

I’m a big tea and coffee drinker and nowadays you can very much tell this from my smile.

I want to fix this but I honestly don’t know where to start! I would like to avoid those unlicensed salons and have whitening done professionally at a dentist or orthodontist.

I’ve looked at my dentists BUPA website and the only service they offer is Phillips Zoom Whitening, and they only offer the home kits.

Are all whitening brands the same? I’ve seen pictures of Zoom results and to be honest I wasn’t blown away by the results. I don’t want Ross from Friends white but I do want them to actually be white!

If Zoom isn’t good enough, how do I find something else that is going to give results? Are home kits just as good as in the chair whitening?

I had this done - you get moulds made at the dentist and then the dentist makes sure they fit properly. Then they give you the little tubes of whitening gel, which is a very mild bleach. Each night you put a little gel on each tooth within the mould. Then you wear it all night. Then take off in the morning and rinse it off. Do this each night until the desired whitening level is achieved - mine was about 10 nights. This might vary greatly depending on your teeth starting colour, and the end result you want. I was very happy with mine, very natural.
cost about £500 including the gel.

Ok that’s good. I think it’s the best place to start but then I see people on Instagram with LED devices in their mouths and they seem to be really white.

£500 is so steep when I’m sure it was half that just a couple of years ago haha, but those are the same prices I’m seeing.

Im a dentist. The method described by BakedBeeeen is the best method. I have yet to use an led light that made any lasting difference. They mostly dehydrate the teeth which makes them whiter .... Until they hydrate again. Go to a dentist tho. Not a clinic or salon. Its illegal for them to whiten teeth.

If you book in teeth whitening with a dentist, do you also have to pay for a separate consultation first? Thanks

Bump

Can I just ask those in the know... will my teeth just go discoloured again as soon as I have a cup of tea?

Over time.

Im getting it done in the new year, booked it a few months ago, paid up front, no point doing it over Chrsitmas with wine and sherry and stuff.

Im a massive tea drinker, almost on a drip with the stuff, its terrible for teeth, look at how it makes the cup look!!

So Im expecting to need it renewing but at least it will look better at the time.

That would depend on that dentists policy. Id try your own dentist first, they will already know your mouth and be the best to advise you.

Tea and coffee staining is external staining and it usually removed by tooth brushing (tho rinsing with water after drinking coffee helps). Bleaching will change the base colour of the teeth which darkens with age and usually needs topped up after a year or so using the same bleaching trays.

Thank you very much. And yes - I absolutely will avoid dodgy beauticians.

Would depend on the individual dentist, however there is a fair bit of work that goes into to the assessment. You need to check if any reason why the whitening may not work . Crowns and restorations do not whiten, only the actually teeth do. You need to go over the consent process, do’s and donts, potential complications and how to avoid. You need to choose a shade. You need to assess for any caries/tooth decay or gum disease which would likely need sorted first before you can proceed.

my rule with whitening is that I need to ensure a patient is dentally fit before proceeding. I would charge a standard examination fee. if the examination has been done recently, like in last few months, I may decide, after a quicker check, that it’s not required, and no extra charge applied. I tend to know my regulars pretty well.

it’s illegal to get bleaching from a salon or a non prescribing dental professional. Just so you know.
Zoom is just the name of a brand of whitening. There used to be an in house Zoom machine type thing, but I did t like that. The overnight whitening that the patient does themselves at home is the best

I had mine done in my early twenties using the method described. One of the best things I ever did. I'm 37 now, drink a lot of tea and coffee, and I think my teeth still look nicer (though in fairness I take better care of them).

The moulds are the big expense, so it's not £500 a go just the first time.

I would ask your dentist as a starting point. 😁

Do you use mouthwash? I happened to use an Anti-bacterial one and they have Chlorhexidine and this causes teeth staining. So I now buy mouthwash without this ingredient. Also, I have smoked for almost 15 years, two coffees and numerous teas daily, and wine weekly but I must say my teeth aren’t that bad because every six months I go for a scale and polish with the hygienist at my Dentist which is approximately £100 each visit but it does help. Hope this helps.

Also, I use a manual Philips toothbrush. If you don’t already, I highly recommend you do use one.

I use mouthwash but day to day I use Listerine. I use chlorhexidine only if I have a gum issue - and it’s crazy how much that stains your teeth!

I have an expensive Oral B toothbrush and I use that. Don’t think I could go back to a manual brush.

Sorry my post was meant to say electric not manual🙈

Colgate white strips, can buy over the counter in America and usually available via mail order in the UK, I've tried the tray with bleach and the awful zoom lightening machine in the dentist and honestly the white strips are far cheaper, far more gentle and have just as good results.

I have had Zoom and the more effective peroxide ones. Neither lasted long because of the coffee. The powder i bought from Amazon is AMAZING. My teeth are whiter than either of those treatments! All stains gone after a few days, I use it daily and no sensitivity or anything. Its really worth trying. I still cant quite believe it.
https://amzn.eu/d/etIQrc6

Just in case you have any teeth fixed with composite, you can’t whiten it. Just have to get it removed and redone as it gets discoloured.

I got the Philips zoom whitening at the dentist and was thrilled with the results. The home kit is very easy to use and I have enough bleach left to do top ups over the next year or so. You can buy it online too.

Opulence teeth whitening syringes. You get 4 for about £50 online. Can get retainers from SLEEP-PRO. Im sorry but I don't know how to do links. Everyone I've suggested this to has absolutely loved it!

I forgot to say it cost 400 euro. I can put up before and after pjotos if you like, I have to warn you though i am 60 so my teeth aren't great.

Thank you. I don’t need to see any photos - the fact that you say you’re thrilled says it all!

I first used Philips Zoom in February. I paid £275 for the consultation, trays and whitening gel (enough for at least 10 nights)
I’m so pleased with the results (I’m 60+. and the difference is amazing; 3 shades lighter)
Ive just topped them up this week with 7 nights of gel, and have at least another 7 nights left, which will take me through to next summer. £60 in total.

@Sycamor Does it make your teeth more sensitive? I heard it strips them and makes them sore ?