Looking For a Whiter Smile? Make Sure You Do It Safely
Apparently a new survey has revealed that an incredible 20 million people in the UK could be at risk of having a potentially harmful teeth whitening treatment. According to the survey more than a quarter of people considering having this treatment would not go to the dentist, but would choose to purchase home whitening kits over the Internet instead, or would even take the risk of visiting a beautician or whitening kiosk in pursuit of a beautiful smile.
Rather worryingly approximately a quarter of the people questioned by the survey believed that beauticians and kiosk staff are qualified to carry out whitening treatments when in fact this was made illegal towards the end of last year. A recent European Council directive ordered that the sale of teeth whitening products containing between0.1% and 6% of hydrogen peroxide can only be sold by registered dental professionals who offer whitening treatments in their practice. Dental organisations recognise that it is becoming far more popular to have this treatment carried out, especially as it’s possible to have teeth whitening treatments in a number of different places, but there’s also little doubt that many of these are operating illegally, and visiting them could pose a significant risk to oral health.
The concern is that many beauticians and people working out of kiosks are carrying out teeth whitening procedures without having sufficient training and expertise. It is not uncommon to find out that the strength of the hydrogen peroxide used to whiten the teeth exceeds the legal limits. If carried out incorrectly then teeth whitening can damage the gums, and may lead to increased tooth sensitivity, and this damage may even be permanent.
It simply is not worth taking the risk of damaging your teeth and gums permanently, especially as professional tooth whitening at Leeds City Dentalcare may be far more affordable than you realise. In addition you will have the security of having a full dental check-up before you receive your custom made whitening trays. This is very important as having unhealthy teeth whitened will almost certainly cause increased sensitivity, and is something that will not be picked up on by someone without the correct dental training who may be offering this service. In addition a lot of people don’t realise that teeth whitening will not change the colour of any existing crowns, bridges or veneers. These are all things that Dr David Brown can advise you on prior to whitening, but which you are extremely unlikely to be informed about by an untrained person.
By visiting our Leeds surgery you are assured of receiving expert advice on whitening safely. Our dentist in Leeds will be able to tell you the kind of colour you can safely achieve, and we can provide you with the correct bleaching gels to ensure you whiten comfortably, and without any unnecessary sensitivity. We will also give you a lot of information on how to keep you smile whiter for longer, and can provide you with additional whitening gel when you need to top up the results. Your custom made whitening trays should last for a long time, and will ensure the bleaching gel stays in the trays and doesn’t leak out onto your gums, something that is always a concern with the one-size-fits-all trays supplied with over the counter kits.
Dr. David S Brown
David is principal dentist & clinical director of Leeds City Dentalcare. Having graduated at Leeds University & at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, he joined the practice in 1990 & took over as principal in 1992. He has a passion for ensuring that we are equipped with the very latest & finest equipment available securing our place as one of the best equipped practices in Yorkshire.
