The Reality Of Alternative Teeth Whitening Treatments

Poor results and possibly damage too….

It is not surprising that a teeth whitening procedure ranks amongst our Greenwich patients as one of the most popular. The custom-made trays we provide in our home teeth whitening kits offer not just comfort but ease of use too, with patients discovering how white their teeth can be in just a short period of time.

Unfortunately, despite the fact that fast acting, effective and safe teeth whitening can be found at an affordable price at the Confidental Clinic, some people continue to seek out alternatives, sometimes with disastrous results. We look at a few of these below.

Whitening clinics - We thought that we would put this at the top of the list as it isn’t technically an ‘alternative’. These “clinics” offer the same treatments as dentists but have been found to offer unsafe whitening, using extremely strong bleaching materials that have caused damage to teeth and gums alike. These establishments are now illegal and should be avoided and reported.

Shop bought whitening kits - These kits offer a safer approach to teeth whitening than the above and use similar ingredients to those found at the dentist. The differences are that a) the strength of the whitening gel is restricted by law and will not produce such good results and b) the trays are a ‘one size fits all’ variety which can make them uncomfortable and cause the bleach to leak onto the lips and gums, sometimes causing irritation and even burns.

Whitening toothpastes - These are advertised widely on TV and every toothpaste manufacturer seems to be getting in on the act. Whilst there is no harm in using these toothpastes, the fact is that you should expect to see very minimal results. The quantity of the whitening ingredient allowed by law is very minor and anyone expecting nice white teeth from them will likely be disappointed.

Alternative methods - A search of the internet will throw up a number of alternative suggestions for teeth whitening. This range from the ridiculous to the potentially harmful. One of the most popular results indicates that the use of lemon juice on your teeth will help to whiten them. Even if this did produce whiter teeth, unfortunately, the acids in it will damage the enamel, potentially causing painful levels of sensitivity as well as exposing them to risks such as tooth decay.

If you are serious in your desire to have nicer looking white teeth, having this done with professional supervision is the only reliable way. The cosmetic dentistry team at the Confidental Clinic are always happy to discuss our treatments with you and we can be contacted at our Greenwich practice by calling in on 020 8858 1422.