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 would be worried about them making teeth sensitive-I don't know how common that is but it's what's stopped me from getting it done! Also Zoom used to be horrendously painful-I used to read reviews of it but we're talking a fair few years ago now might've gotten better since then.

Thanks for starting this thread op, v helpful info as dh really wants to have proper teeth whitening done after trying various kits that do nothing. Looks like the zoom method with a dentist is best.

@Sycamorand @coleslawscan I ask a question about what something means please? My dentist says if I leave it too long to get a very broken tooth removed and replaced with an implant that I’ll “lose the space”. I simply can’t afford an implant at the moment but they keep hassling me about not leaving it too long. I don’t know when or if I’ll be able to afford one tbh. I don’t want to have the tooth removed and just leave a gap but if leaving it broken and in place is doing any kind of damage, should I just get it pulled out? Not enough tooth left for a crown, dissuaded from a bridge due to having to file two healthy teeth down, and I can’t afford an implant. Can you get a false tooth for just one tooth? I might just need to try and embrace living with a noticeable gap and the sensory issues I’m imagining with eating with that gap?!

I had mine whitened at my dentist, he recommended Enlighten whitening system. As above it is tray and gels. I paid £600 and am really pleased with the results. My teeth look naturally white rather than blingy white.

I found Zoom very painful. And the fancy bleach ones wrecked my lip fillers because of the stretched skin when from the mouthpiece thing. Zoom made my teeth unbelievably sensitive as well.

Same as @BakedBeeeenhere - but my dentist only charges £250 (North)!

Yes most will have some sensitivity because of the action of the chemical in the dentine. It doesn't last tho and causes no damage. If you have sensitivity while bleaching just do a few nights a week rather than every night, give your mouth a chance to settle

Ivyy if you don't have the extraction you are risking developing an abscess which will be painful and occasionally dangerous to your health like any infection. You can have a temporary denture to replace one tooth made after the extraction. If you don't put anything into the gap the opposing teeth can overerupt into the space making it difficult to restore later. It depends a lot in which tooth you are losing and how visible the gap will be. Difficult choices, I'm sorry.

I have naturally yellowish teeth. I also like red wine and black coffee.

I have had whitening with trays and gells and I was pleased with result.

My current dentist is offering a stain removal clean that uses compressed air for £100.

I'm currently concentrating on getting my gums in better shape but then I might treat myself to the air clean.

I’ve been doing it for years, my usual dentist who is NHS, also recommended the trays and not the one off Zoom treatment as mentioned above. Please bear in mind it’s no good whitening them overnight and then having a nice cup of builders brew the next morning. Also, as I’ve got older, mine no longer whiten to the shade they did when I was much younger. However, at nearly 60 I am fairly happy with my smile.

Dentist here. I’m not familiar with this powder but be wary. Some of the over the counter stain removal powders can be very abrasive and can actually wear down the enamel signify. So whilst short term, the teeth appear whiter, in the longer term you could be left with sensitive, worn teeth. When the enamel wears away, the underlying denting shows through, and this can be naturally darker in colour. I’d get your dentist to check your teeth asap

Also just to add to the above, after an extraction the bone around the socket shrinks. If it’s left too long it can sometimes be the case that there isn’t enough bone to actually secure an implant. The best practice is for the dentist who is placing the implant to also do the extraction. They use tools that help to conserve as much bone as possible, can assess the socket at the time, provide bone grafts if necessary and plan the implant placement timing for maximum success

I ordered those strips from America, they worked well! Can’t remember what they’re called though now 🤦‍♀️ someone else might be able to jog my memory

edit - I remembered ! Crest 3d white

Crest whitening strips and similar ordered from America are banned from general sale in the UK for a reason. They exceed the maximum dose of hydrogen peroxide allowed to be supplied over the counter, and should only be administered/managed by a licensed dental professional.
at the higher doses the hydrogen peroxide can show nasty side effects such as sensitivity, chemical burns and pitting/erosion of tooth surfaces. These are conditions that can only be managed by a dentist, therefore whitening should really only be done in conjunction with a dentist. That’s why it’s illegal to provide it by general sale.

there’s also the risk of not quite knowing what you are buying by ordering online.

I don’t understand why anyone would risk permanently damaging their teeth in the name of vanity just to save a few pounds.

the dentist when he provides the treatment,as well as assessing suitability will make the custom trays in such a way that they have a small dam around each tooth to prevent spillage of the gel onto the gum

Is there anything safe that dentists suggest if you can’t afford the £500?

I had Enlighten whitening treat with moulds and trays supplied by my dentist. No sensitivity at all and teeth a lot whiter. Cost me £600

I will put up a pic in case it helps anyone else. Mine are definitely not blingy white, I drink too much tea for that, but at my age I am happy with them.

Find a cheaper provider. Our whitening Xmas offer is £270 reduced from £310