Everyone wants white teeth, but foods such as coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco discolor our teeth. Discoloration of the teeth naturally happens with age because the enamel gets thinner and the yellowish color of the tooth bone (dentine) becomes more visible.
The substance in dental bleaches used is carbamide peroxide / hydrogen peroxide. This substance penetrates the tooth and can remove colorants that have penetrated over time. However, the result varies, so it is not possible to predict how effective the bleaching will be. You will not get a Hollywood white color as they often have veneers.
The consequence of bleaching, however, is that quite a bit of the tooth enamel is dissolved each time it is bleached. Enamel is not restored once it has dissolved, which is why acid damage is also permanent.
It is normal to get a little sore teeth and gums while bleaching, and if you already have sensitive gums, it will be even worse. Breaks or completely stopping can therefore become a necessity if it is bad. The icing feeling usually stops after a few days.
The teeth will be more susceptible to new colorants the first days after bleaching. You should therefore stay away from colorful foods. The durability of a bleaching depends on how many colorants the teeth are exposed to.
Bleaching at home
The most common way to bleach is at home. At the clinic we will take some impressions which we send to a technician. The technician makes some bleaching aligners custommade for you. In these bleaching aligners you place bleaching gel that you get from the dentist. After applying the gel the aligners have to placed in the mouth for about 4 hours. The bleaching process will take about 8-14 days. Always make sure to follow the instructions provided.
If you have had a root canal treatment, you may risk that the tooth will look a little gray / discolored. By bleaching the tooth from the inside, you can in some cases lighten the tooth again.
Good advices
- Bleach teeth only where necessary.
- Be prepared for side effects, especially in the form of icing.
- When bleaching at home, follow the dentist’s instructions carefully.
- Never buy bleach online! They are most often illegal and may contain substances that damage your teeth.
- If you are tanned and use a dark lipstick, your teeth look brighter.
Rules from the National Board of Health and the Environment
- Teeth whitening should always be done with initial examination and information at a dentist.
- Bleaching can then take place at the individual’s home.
- It is not allowed to whiten teeth with hydrogen peroxide at a hairdresser or beautician.
- Tooth whitening agents with more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide must not be sold over the counter in Denmark (at least 3% is required to whiten teeth).
- Teeth whitening should not be performed on young people under 18 years of age.
- The person must have a reflection time of min. 2 days before bleaching is allowed.
- A clinical photo must be taken at the dentist before and after treatment