Whitening Your Teeth Safely at Leeds City Dentalcare
Teeth whitening has to be one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments available today, but many people underestimate the strength of the whitening gels used, and they also tend to forget that this is a dental treatment. A new website launched recently aims to protect the public from harmful and illegal teeth whitening. The website is www.safetoothwhitening.org and its aim is to educate the public on how to achieve whiter teeth in a manner that is safe and legal. It also allows people to report those non-dental professionals who are carrying out teeth whitening illegally. Anyone who finds teeth whitening products containing more than 0.1% peroxide being sold by anyone other than the dental professional can also report this. An Internet company was recently prosecuted for selling peroxide-based teeth whitening products that were up to 30 times the permitted strength.
The website has been set up by leading dental bodies who are concerned that teeth whitening treatments are still being promoted and sold illegally. Since October last year, whitening products containing or releasing between 0.1% and 6% hygiene peroxide can only be sold by a registered dental professional. In addition the first application has to be carried out under a dentist’s supervision in the surgery.
Teeth whitening is a Dental Procedure
Teeth whitening is a dental procedure, and if you care about your teeth then it’s best to visit Leeds City Dental care for a full consultation before using any type of whitening product whatsoever. Dr David Brown, or any of our dentists will be able to tell you if it’s safe for you to bleach your teeth. We will only recommend this treatment if we’re absolutely sure it’s right for you. When carried out by a dental professional, teeth whitening is completely safe and very effective, but when carried out illegally it could damage your teeth and gums permanently. It’s simply not worth the risk, especially as teeth whitening treatments offered by your dentist in Leeds are far more affordable than you might imagine.
Leeds City Dentalcare Uses a Gentle Whitening System
Leeds City Dental care uses a very gentle whitening system that utilizes teeth whitening trays that can be left in for several hours or overnight. The process will gradually restore your teeth to a natural white colour, and this is something that usually takes a couple of weeks. Once you have your custom-made whitening trays, then provided you look after them they can be reused periodically to touch up your smile, as our needs surgery will prescribe the appropriate whitening gel for your needs. The exact strength will take into account any tooth sensitivity, and the degree of whitening required.
This is far safer than putting your teeth and gums and risk by purchasing a kit online. It might seem cheap, but any whitening trays are unlikely to fit well and you could find the bleaching gel leaks out onto your gums, at the very least this will cause irritation. Choosing a gel that’s too strong for your needs will not result in beautifully white teeth, but could mean you end up over bleaching your teeth so they end up grey or they may even appear almost translucent. Either way it won’t be the result you’re looking for, and it’s highly likely that you’ll damage your teeth in the process.
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.
