More and more patients come to our dental clinic in Alicante asking which is the best method for whitening their teeth.
There are countless ways to whiten them, from home methods of doubtful effectiveness to professional methods carried out by specialists at a dental clinic.
In this article we cover both, but we will say up front that what we, as dentists, always recommend is that you go to your dental clinic and let a cosmetic dentistry specialist advise you on what is best for your case.
Combined teeth whitening with Philips ZOOM!, the best method
The whitening we do at Arroyo & Hernández dental clinic is the safest and the most effective of all: combined whitening with the Philips ZOOM! lamp.
This method involves, first, a whitening session at our dental clinic after a check-up with our cosmetic dentistry specialist.
Then we give you custom-made trays, known as a whitening kit, so you can apply a gel to them and wear them at home.
We give you full instructions on how long to wear them each day and for how many days. We also give you desensitising gels, so you feel no discomfort after whitening.
Does teeth whitening hurt?
This is a very common question, but no, it is a completely painless process for the patient and does not even need local anaesthetic.
You may only feel some tooth sensitivity after treatment; it is normal to notice some discomfort with cold or hot food and drink for a few days.
And once treatment is finished, we give you gels to reduce that sensitivity so you feel no discomfort at all.
How do I keep my teeth white after treatment?
We have talked about this at length on our Instagram profile, in the “Consejos” highlights, but here are a few tips to make your whitening last as long as possible:
Are there other safe teeth whitening methods?
Below we look at some of the other methods for whitening your teeth. Some of them we can recommend at Arroyo & Hernández dental clinic, others we cannot.
With social media and the fashion for ever whiter teeth, methods have appeared that do indeed whiten the teeth but have very harmful side effects for your dental health.
In-clinic teeth whitening
This type of whitening is carried out only at a dental clinic, without any whitening trays at home to back it up.
It is effective and lasts a while, but it does not last as long as combined whitening, which brings together the best of both: whitening at home and at the clinic.
At our dental clinic in Alicante we only offer combined whitening, because it is the most effective and gives the best results.
And thanks to cutting-edge technology such as the Philips ZOOM! lamp, we can guarantee a very noticeable result for every patient.
If you are thinking about whitening, you can come for a free first visit so we can advise you with no obligation and give you a quote suited to your needs. Treatment here works out considerably cheaper than in the UK: write to us or call and we will give you an estimate based on your case.
Teeth whitening at home
This, unlike in-clinic whitening, is done only at home. The dentist gives you trays with whitening properties that you wear following their instructions.
This method is very convenient for the patient, but it is less effective than in-clinic whitening and than combined whitening.
Whitening strips
Another of the best-known whitening methods of the moment, with more and more followers, but one that we do not recommend at our dental clinic either.
These products usually contain hydrogen or carbamide peroxide, which have whitening properties. And this is what the OCU (the Spanish consumers’ organisation) says about hydrogen peroxide:
The job of hydrogen peroxide is to reach this part of the tooth. But as it is a corrosive substance, besides whitening the teeth it can also make them more sensitive and brittle and cause problems with the dental tissue and the gums, which end up inflamed.
OCU
So, as you probably already suspect, it is best to avoid this kind of “magic” product that promises miraculous results.
Whitening toothpastes
There are many brands on the market offering toothpastes with whitening properties.
Well, first we want to make clear that this is not magic: using that kind of toothpaste will not whiten your teeth.
Even the OCU has stressed that it will not whiten your teeth; all you will get is a little more shine and cleaner teeth, as with any other toothpaste.
However, if you have already had whitening, it can be beneficial to use this toothpaste two or three times a week to keep your teeth white a little longer.
Activated charcoal
A method that is all over social media, and even widely recommended by various influencers as a great product for whitening teeth.
However, all that glitters is not gold: there are a great many associations and scientific studies that show the harmful risks it can have.
For example, the OCU points out that it is very abrasive, that it can wear away the enamel of our teeth and that it can therefore increase tooth sensitivity.
Also, it has not been proven to have whitening properties; rather, it serves to remove surface stains that our teeth may have.
It is worth stressing that those same stains can be removed with a professional cleaning at a dental clinic in a far safer, more effective way.
