Why should you avoid teeth whitening at home

Should you whiten your teeth at home? 

It is possible to buy over-the-counter products to whiten your own teeth. However, it’s not recommended. In fact, the NHS advises patients to only visit a registered dental professional for teeth whitening, as home kits carry multiple risks to your teeth. For instance, the majority of home kits that you can buy online or in-store do not contain sufficient levels of hydrogen peroxide to be effective. Research shows that over-the-counter products contain the equivalent of around 3% hydrogen peroxide, while those used by dental professionals vary in concentrations between 15% and 43%.  

What’s more, the process of whitening your own teeth isn’t straightforward, and if you don’t fit the mouthguard properly, some of the bleaching gel could leak into your gums, causing sensitivity, pain, and even blistering. When used incorrectly, DIY teeth whitening products can also damage your enamel. Enamel is exceptionally important for the health of your teeth, as it is their first layer of defence against physical and chemical harm. Ultimately, the risks associated with DIY teeth whitening products are high, and you have no margin for error. As such, teeth whitening is best left to the professionals, as we explain below. 

Teeth whitening at Pure Smiles 

While it can be tempting to buy a DIY teeth whitening kit, we believe that the risks they pose to the health of your teeth are not worth taking. After all, you only get one set of teeth! At Pure Smiles, we are proud to use Enlighten Evolution teeth whitening, and we are accredited as an Enlighten Regional Centre of Excellence. Over the past few decades, Enlighten has established itself as an industry leader as far as teeth whitening is concerned, and it is the only brand on the market to provide you with guaranteed long-lasting results. 

Another reason why we trust Enlighten is that you will not feel any pain following the procedure. Lots of DIY kits leave you with sensitive gums and teeth in the days and weeks following treatment, and certain other brands are also known to leave patients in discomfort. Enlighten achieves this low sensitivity thanks to a high gloss tooth serum repair paste, which fills in defects in the surface of your enamel, addressing the sensitivity of your teeth and resulting in a high gloss lustre. In other words, you can achieve your teeth whitening goals without worrying about feeling pain or discomfort. 

Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments that we offer to our patients. Alongside the likes of teeth straightening and porcelain veneers, our teeth whitening service will help you achieve the smile that you have always dreamed of. For more information about how our teeth whitening treatment works or to book a consultation with one of our friendly dentists, call us today on 0203 613 9698.