Who wants yellowing or discoloured teeth anyway? Don’t we all want that bright, white, Hollywood smile?

Many online resources are focused on how to get and keep gleaming white teeth. Some are actually fascinating and list many safe and natural products to achieve this. (As opposed to foreigners’ urine as we discussed in our previous article.)

One website lists several natural combinations, one of which is mustard oil and salt. They say, “It is a unique home remedy for teeth whitening and for killing the harmful bacteria in your mouth. 

“When applied on teeth with some salt mixed into it, it acts as the perfect natural whitener. One-part salt and three parts mustard oil are all you need. So, if you are taking one teaspoon of salt, use three teaspoons of mustard oil, and rub it on your teeth for a few minutes. You can either use your finger to massage it on your gums and teeth or gently use your toothbrush. Do so for about three minutes and see the results for yourself.”

Whilst we cannot personally vouch for all these home remedies, they do make for interesting reading and likely are effective on surface stains and general oral hygiene.

(If you’ve tried any natural home teeth whitening remedies at home, please feel free to comment and let us know how they worked for you.)

Professional Teeth Whitening

When we chatted about the recent history of teeth whitening in a previous article, we uncovered the workings of the wonder product; hydrogen peroxide. 

The uses for hydrogen peroxide are numerous and include cleaning and disinfection of your kitchen, bathroom, garden, and even your pets. It is still used as the basis for teeth whitening but now works alongside some wonderfully exciting technology which we’d like to talk about in this article. 

Zoom Whitening

This popular technology is aptly named and is a preferred, tried and tested teeth bleaching process. 

What is Zoom and how does it give me white teeth?

Zoom is a professional whitening system used by dentists which offers safe, super-fast results in a single visit. 

“It’s the brand asked for by most people, and with good reason. Zoom Whitespeed’s LED advanced technology ensures up to 8 shades whiter in as little as 45 minutes, excluding prep time. 

​“Both in office and take home gels have a pH booster, meaning its completely safe for your teeth. All gels contain amorphous calcium phosphate, sodium fluoride and potassium nitrate to help remineralize and desensitize the teeth during the bleaching process. The active bleaching ingredient for in office whitening gel is always hydrogen peroxide, where the take home ampoules may contain either hydrogen or carbamide peroxide.” (Source)

Whilst cosmetic dental procedures are generally best done under the watchful eye of your dentist, the option to make use of take-home kits is appealing. 

Dina from Shine Dental says, “We offer a “home whitening” system, which is performed using individually made trays. Home whitening gives you the control to gain the result that you are looking for. Once your trays have been made you can refresh your smile at any stage. All of our products are readily available at the Clinic.

“Whitening causes no damage to your teeth and we ensure the products leave you looking and feeling great.”

So, shall we stick with home-whitening kits and be done? Are they enough on their own?

Teeth whitening in-office or at home?

An article on various teeth whitening processes says, “[Dr] Kantor breaks down the difference between treating teeth stains with at-home versus in-office treatments. “Things like oil-pulling, white strips, whitening toothpastes, and charcoal-based cleaners to whiten your teeth are removing surface stains and making your teeth appear whiter,” explains Kantor. 

“Those products don’t actually bleach your teeth like professional teeth whitening. What determines how white your teeth are going to get is how concentrated the hydrogen peroxide is, which is a bleaching agent.”

Zoom whitening, similar to laser teeth whitening, uses a combination of a peroxide-based gel alongside a chairside light which creates a chemical reaction, breaking down stains embedded in the enamel of the tooth.

With an even reaction rate and consistent results, Zoom has proven its worth in our clinic. 

How can I get white teeth?

As with any cosmetic procedure, the final results will vary from person to person. Some may require more visits, while others will find their teeth to be a little too sensitive.

The best thing to if you want to get rid of your discoloured teeth once and for all is to book an appointment with one of our dentists. We will be able to assess your overall dental health and offer solutions which will suit you and your expectations. 

Call us on 01420 550616 and let us give you back that beautiful white smile.