If you are like the hundred of thousands of people who whiten their teeth, you might be wondering how often you can whiten your teeth without harm.
The dental experts from The London Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry share their expertise with you in this tell-all teeth whitening guide!
How many times can you whiten your teeth?
Wondering how often you can whiten your teeth?
Although teeth whitening with dentist supplied or recommended products is the safest way to lighten the shade and improve the appearance of your teeth – it isn’t generally recommended to whiten more than once per year.
This is because although products are safe if they contain less than 0.1%-6% hydrogen or carbamide peroxide (when coming from a dentist) or less than 0.1% if they are purchased over the counter, repeated exposure can be harmful and cause unpleasant side effects, such as tooth sensitivity from enamel loss and increased translucence.
How often can you whiten your teeth professionally?
Most whitening treatments will have their own specific life expectancy, whether they are in-chair/in-surgery or at-home.
These treatments often include a top-up application roughly halfway through the lifetime of the treatment, which extends the results and helps keep your teeth whiter for longer.
While it is advised not to whiten your teeth any more than once per year, following the application instructions for each specific whitening system is perfectly safe and will provide patients with the best results.
If you are unsure, you can ask your dentist, who will happily go through the specifics with you.
How often can you bleach your teeth?
Bleaching the teeth and whitening the teeth are most often the same treatment, it’s just a matter of phrasing.
As such, you shouldn’t bleach the teeth more than once per year, or more than is advised with your specific whitening system.
Doing so can be extremely harmful for the teeth, permanently stripping the enamel and causing life-long, irreparable damage.
When should you whiten your teeth?
When to whiten your teeth is up to you!
If you have a good diet, avoid staining foods or drinks, and take thorough care of your oral health, you may not ever need to professionally whiten your teeth.
However, if you are unhappy with the shade of your teeth, no matter the cause, professional teeth whitening is an option for you when you are ready.
If you do seek professional, in-chair whitening, your dentist will advise you of the necessary steps you should complete before or after.
If you are using at-home whitening treatments, it is best to whiten your teeth at the end of the day, once you are ready to go to bed. This is because your teeth will be clean from your final brush of the day, and you won’t be eating or drinking.
This also gives the chemicals the best conditions for efficacy while you sleep.
How can you whiten your teeth with braces?
If you are using a fixed orthodontic device, like braces, to straighten your teeth, you might be wondering how you could whiten them – as so much of the tooth’s surface is covered with brackets and wires.
Depending on your personal circ*mstances, it is not generally recommended to use professional whitening until the apparatus has been removed from your teeth, as you could end up with an uneven finish once the brackets are taken off. This is because the area beneath will not have been exposed to the chemicals and UV light needed to whiten, while the areas around the edge will.
During your orthodontic treatment, you can try over-the-counter whitening toothpastes or strips and see your hygienist regularly for professional cleaning- which can brighten the smile while keeping it healthy and strong.
Then, you can book in for professional whitening once your brace is removed, to give a uniform whitening effect to the whole surface of the tooth while also lifting up to 8 shades.
Trusted, safe teeth whitening in London
Don’t spend any more time wondering how often you can whiten your teeth – the expert team at LCCD can offer bespoke advice any time you need it, on teeth whitening or any other cosmetic dentistry treatment.
We offer a range of in-chair and at-home teeth whitening treatments and are used to working with many people, including celebrities, to create the white, shining smile of their dreams.
For more informationabout teeth whitening, browse our website or book an appointment today. You can reach us by filling in ourcontact formor calling0207 722 1235– Our friendly reception team will do everything they can to help.
