Is Bleaching Your Teeth Ever a Good Idea? Ask a Dentist from the City of London
As we get older, our teeth naturally become discoloured and tarnished. Drinking coffee, tea and red wine or consuming other foods and drinks that are heavily coloured, may cause your teeth to become stained earlier than anticipated. An additional cause of yellowing teeth is smoking, the ingredients in your cigarettes are extremely damaging to tooth enamel and contribute to the build up of tartar. Tooth decay, fillings and plaque accumulation also increase the chances of early-onset discolouration.
There are however tooth whitening products available that can help to return your teeth to their former glory. They typically contain either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, chemicals that release oxygen as their broken down in the saliva. The oxygen released from this reaction gets into the enamel of your teeth and results in a lightening effect. The whitening usually lasts from six months to up to three years but varies according to the individual. Bleaching kits can either be brought to use at home, or a more technical (and probably safer) version of the equipment can be used by your dentist in the City of London.
Bleaching unfortunately has no effect on false teeth, veneers or crowns If you are concerned about the state of any of these teeth your dentist may be able to replace them with lighter versions. If you are suffering from conditions such as tooth decay or gum disease, these must be treated before you can undergo any form of tooth whitening. There are also some unrelated conditions in which tooth whitening is not recommended, these include pregnancy, breast-feeding and any one whose teeth are still currently developing.