What is teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening involves bleaching your teeth to lighten the colour of the enamel.

The main ingredients used in tooth whitening products are the chemicals hydrogen peroxide. The chemicals usually come in a gel, which is applied to your teeth. Sometimes a light is used too.

What causes discoloured teeth?

The outside of your teeth can be stained when you:

• drink tea, coffee or red wine
• eat food such as spices, berries or beetroot
• smoke cigarettes

The white enamel layer on the outside of your teeth can also wear away as you get older. This exposes the dentine layer underneath. This is a yellowish colour and causes your tooth to look yellower.

Teeth can also be discoloured if:

• they are damaged or injured
• you took certain medicines, such as the antibiotics tetracycline or doxycycline, as a young child when your teeth were being formed

When might I need teeth whitening?

If your teeth are stained or discoloured, you might want to whiten them.

If you are considering teeth whitening, you should consult your dental practitioner to see if your teeth are suitable.

Teeth whitening is not recommended if you:

• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• have sensitive teeth
• have gum disease
• have cracks or holes in your teeth
• have untreated dental problems

Teeth whitening treatments will not work on teeth with crowns, veneers or fillings.

If the problem causing the yellowing is deep inside your teeth, then a whitening gel applied to the outside of your teeth won’t make your teeth whiter.

For more information call to book 03 9741 0639