Call us: 01263 732127

Be careful of home remedies for teeth whitening

You may have heard about using baking soda or lemon juice to whiten your teeth ‘naturally’. We do not recommend these treatments as they can use damage to the tooth enamel and will erode your teeth over time. Lemon juice is highly acidic, and whitens teeth by eroding the enamel. Baking soda acts as a strong abrasive, hastening the damage done by the lemon juice. Our teeth whitening process is completely safe and will not damage your teeth.

Make an appointment at Station Square Dental today to find out how we can brighten your smile.

Tooth Whitening

Teeth whitening is a bleaching process that removes stains and discolouration from teeth to make them look whiter. Here at Aylsham Dental, we offer safe, effective treatment for discoloured teeth from the comfort of your own home.

Why do teeth become discoloured?

Discoloured teeth affect most of the population, and can appear as yellow or brown spots or streaks. Although there are measures that can be taken to prevent the discolouration, it will occur naturally through ageing.

Stained teeth can fall into two categories, extrinsic stains and intrinsic stains. Extrinsic stains are present on the external layer of the tooth. Food and drinks such as red wine, soft drinks, tea and coffee, as well as smoking are common causes. Intrinsic stains are present in the internal structures of the tooth and are often developmental in nature. Excess fluoride, antibiotics and trauma can also cause intrinsic stains.

How can I whiten my teeth?

For extrinsic stains and discolouration, the simplest management option is a professional hygiene visit, with polishing to further help remove the superficial stains.

For intrinsic stains the common form of management is teeth whitening. Before performing any teeth whitening treatment, we will carefully check the health of your teeth and gums. If you have any chipped enamel, holes in teeth or gum disease, we will treat these first. Teeth and gums should be healthy prior to whitening or it may result in inconsistent results or increased pain or sensitivity

At-home teeth whitening

We offer home whitening kits using one of the world’s leading whitening brands. Our take-home kits are easy to use and more gentle on your teeth than one visit whitening.

To make our professional home whitening kits, our dentist will take an impression of your mouth from which they will make your custom-fitting trays. Once these trays have been made (usually taking 5-10 days) you use them in combination with a professional whitening gel (PolaNight). Patients are advised to wear their trays overnight consecutively for 2-3 weeks depending on the desired results.