Articles » Ways to whiten your teeth
In modern dentistry, teeth whitening can deliver very good results in a relatively short space of
time. It is no longer the celebrities and the rich who can enjoy a bright smile. Whitening procedures
have become more accessible to the wider population as the costs have come down over the years.
Teeth whitening is currently a big business and the number of products and services available in
the market is vast. Depending on the type of tooth whitening technique, the costs range from a few
pounds for a tube of whitening toothpaste to up to £400 - £500 for in-surgery laser teeth whitening.
The best results are achieved when a patient chooses an in-surgery teeth whitening. It is the most
effective from the whitening procedures but also the most effective one. The process of in-surgery
whitening is relatively straight-forward. The dentist places a protection over the gums and then
applies a bleaching gel to your teeth. After that a laser light is placed in front of your mouth. The
whitening action of the gel is activated by the light exposure. This gel is left on your teeth for up to
half an hour and the process is repeated a few times for the best results. The entire process of in-
surgery teeth whitening last about 1.5 to 2 hours
Another quite popular and a reasonably priced tooth whitening technique is the tray based system.
Although whitening trays can be bought from your chemist or online, the best results are achieved
when trays are prepared by your cosmetic dentist. The dentist would take the impression of your
teeth and a dental technician would produce a custom made trays. Once the trays are ready, your
dentist will provide you with a whitening gel and instruct you how to use.
Whitening tooth paste is yet another product that can brighten your smile. However, there are
a number of limitations of such toothpastes. The results are only visible after are longer use.
Additionally, prolonged use without consulting your dentist may lead to the enamel erosion.
In the recent years the whitening strips have been introduced as another whitening procedure. The
main advantage of the strips is the low cost. However, the results are not as good as when using in-
surgery techniques. Usually, the strips can only be applied for front teeth so achieving the full mouth
whitening effect is difficult.
Please note that you should always consult with your dentist before applying any of the whitening
techniques. Due to the high cost of in-surgery teeth whitening in the UK, many patients consider
getting teeth whitening abroad. Costs of such procedures in Poland are up to 60% lower than in the
UK or other Western European countries.