Everyone wants whiter, brighter teeth without spending hundreds of pounds sitting in a dentist’s chair. But did you know that using whitening toothpaste does more harm than good? Express.co.uk interviews Dr Sahil Patel, cosmetic dentist and founder of Marylebone Smile Clinic.
When it comes to the best at-home products to whiten teeth, Dr. Sahil says, “There are a lot of home products that claim to whiten teeth, however, almost all of them don’t have a strong research base as to whether or not they whiten teeth.” Effective or Safe indeed.
“Many of the major brands that can whiten teeth in a single session can be too good to be true, and the effects are often short-lived.
“Having said that, there is one available without a dentist visit that uses a mild bleach called PAP, short for a new form of bleach that is not restricted by peroxides, in the EU and EU UK.
“This shows some short-term benefits of teeth whitening, however, research on long-term effects and safety is still ongoing.
“Would I recommend it? I don’t think it would do you any harm, but your gold standard would be seeing a dentist for teeth whitening,” he added.
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“Toothpaste labels follow the same principles as above, but they are delivered in a different form.”
When asked why whitening toothpastes are not recommended, Dr Sahil explained: “Whitening toothpastes usually contain higher levels of abrasives, which is what it does by stripping away a very thin layer of enamel on the upper surface of the teeth to create a whitening effect The way.
“Initially this sounds promising because it will give you a result, but the enamel is only half a millimeter to a millimeter thick and takes you a lifetime.
“If you’re trying to whiten your teeth by peeling off a layer, it won’t last long and you could have serious problems later on.
“This includes sensitivity, where your teeth may become more yellow due to losing enamel and requiring more dental work later in life.
“Fluoride and sensitive toothpastes are superior because they have the protection of fluoride without being overly abrasive,” he said.
Anyone looking to get their teeth whitened, Dr. Sahil recommends seeing a dentist.
At Marylebone Smile Clinic, there are “several ways” to whiten your teeth.
“The first is to use custom-made trays that are placed on the teeth for an hour a day for two to four weeks or more,” the expert revealed.
“A slightly better approach is to use a whitening tray at night for two to four weeks.
“This exposes the teeth to a concentration of peroxide that whitens the teeth so you basically get whiter teeth.
“The cost of such a treatment varies from clinic to clinic, but in London it can be between £295 and £695.
“Usually you’ll see the initial whitening in the first three days.
“After the third day to the tenth day, the effect will increase, from the tenth day to the fourteenth day, it will stabilize and stabilize, the important thing is to continue to the fourteenth day to keep yourself stable for a long time .”
Dr. Sahil continued: “Composite bonding and porcelain veneers are reserved for those who cannot whiten, or who want to make their teeth brighter than peroxide whitening alone.
“It costs £295/piece for composite bonding and £795/piece for porcelain.
“Both are permanent, lasting six to eight years and ten to fifteen years, respectively.”