Teeth whitening

Follow these steps when using a professional teeth whitening kit from Yorkshire Dental Suite:

1. Brush your teeth and use a water flosser to remove debris between teeth
2. Rinse tray with cool water and dry before use
3. Ensure the nozzle of the whitening syringe is clear. If blocked, replace
4. Apply a pea-sized amount of whitening gel into the receptacles on the whitening tray
5. Dry your teeth with the supplied cotton buds
6. Put the trays into your mouth and press firmly. Use a chewie for the best fit
7. Leave in place for up to 8 hours per day, ideally overnight, for the best result
8. Remove the trays and clean with cold water, then store

Yes, but the results are limited. Whitening strips use low-strength peroxide which is held inconsistently in place across your teeth by a ribbon. As a result the whitening will not last long.

Professional teeth whitening from Yorkshire Dental Suite can last up to 3+ years. Results will vary due to lifestyle choices e.g. consumption of foods and drink known to stain teeth, and smoking or vaping. One syringe contains enough gel for several applications and you are given multiple syringes to help extend and top-up your whitening regime.

Yes, but mainly because the ingredients used are less potent than dental lead treatments. Be careful when applying strips as if placed against the gum, it can cause irritation.

It can - however, as an abrasive, prolonged use of baking soda is not recommended as this can damage your enamel and cause yellowing.

There are many treatments that claim to whiten teeth naturally:

• Baking soda/Bicarbonate of soda
• Oil pulling with coconut oil
• Banana peel
• Turmeric
• Charcoal

For an in-depth review of these techniques see our natural teeth whitening blog.

Our research points to Colgate Optic White Pro as the best teeth whitening toothpaste. For an in-depth breakdown please read our best teeth whitening toothpaste blog.

There is little evidence that coconut oil is an effective teeth whitening treatment. The ingredients may have some effect at reducing plaque and tartar, which could be seen as evidence of an effect. For an in-depth analysis read our blog titled does coconut oil whiten teeth.

Teeth are naturally yellow. Stains build up over years of eating and drinking food, and due to lifestyle choices like smoking or vaping. To get rid of yellow teeth safely we recommend professional teeth whitening at a dentist. These use high strength, prescription only gels that penetrate into the tooth to lift ingrained stains. With nightly use you can see a great result in around 5 days. These results obviously come at a premium. If you need a more affordable way to whiten yellow teeth consider:

• Low-strength over-the-counter whitening kits
• Low-strength whitening strips
• Abrasive whitening powders (can damage your enamel)
• Abrasive whitening toothpaste

We do not recommend UV or homeopathic treatments as these do not offer any meaningful whitening.

Having had your scans, received your whitening kit and been given instructions by the dentist, take your kit home to begin your treatment.

1. Use the kit as directed, ideally overnight for the best effect. You should start to see results after the first five days.
2. Once you have achieved the desired whiteness you can stop using the kit.
3. If teeth become stained repeat the treatment until the desired whiteness is again achieved.

Professional dental teeth whitening is safe. With the correct kit and instructions you can effectively whiten your teeth and maintain a beautiful smile at home. Issues may occur when gel is over applied, spilling up and out of the tray. This can irritate your gums. Teeth can become sensitive to hot and cold. Use a sensitive toothpaste and over-the-counter pain medication to address any discomfort. If pain persists contact your dentist.

To stay safe avoid:

• Whitening treatments provided by people or companies that are not dentists.
• Mixing different gel types or using non-prescription gels.
• Using trays created from a gel impression kit. Trays created from a 3D intraoral scan are safer.

No. Composite bonding uses a non-porous resin that cannot be treated by carbamide peroxide gels. Similarly whitening strips, toothpastes, powders, mouthwashes and UV treatments will have no effect.

If your composite bonding has become stained contact your dentist to discuss your options.

There are many treatments that can be effective when removing stains from teeth. These include:

1. Professional teeth whitening gel that penetrates into the tooth
2. Over-the-counter kits use low-strength gels and imprecise trays to whiten
3. Whitening toothpaste or powder uses an abrasive to scrub surface stains
4. Whitening strips hold low-strength peroxide compounds against the teeth to whiten
5. UV treatments temporarily whiten teeth. The effect doesn't last long
6. Herbal, natural and homeopathic treatments are largely ineffective

Yes. Whitening toothpaste is an effective way to whiten your teeth. They use abrasives to scrub surface stains from teeth. However, this lacks the penetration afforded by professional whitening gels. Whitening toothpaste results are not long lasting and require repetition throughout the day. This frequent use can damage enamel, causing teeth to turn yellow.

Professional teeth whitening at a dentists costs £395. This includes prescription 16% carbamide peroxide gels, a custom-made whitening tray created from 3D scans of your mouth, and a thorough oral check-up to make sure you do not have oral hygiene issues that would prevent success.

The frequency and duration of treatment largely depends on the colour of your natural teeth and desired result. Discuss this with your dentist to work out an effective treatment timeline.

Typically treatment takes 8 hours per day, usually overnight, with repeated use a minimum of 5 days consecutively.

Milder cases can be more infrequent or take less time to see results.

When combined into a carbamide peroxide gel, yes. However hydrogen peroxide by itself is not recommended. The hydrogen peroxide needs other compounds to penetrate beyond being able to tackle surface stains.

Oil pulling with coconut oil and other materials has no scientific effect on the whiteness of teeth. While some oils can be effective at removing plaque and tartar they are unable to address surface or ingrained stains.

Professional dental whitening using carbamide peroxide does not damage teeth. It does take advantage of the porous nature of natural tooth enamel to penetrate deep into a tooth which can cause some sensitivity.

Damage typically occurs due to repeated use of abrasive whitening products or improper use of chemicals to whiten teeth. These can affect your teeth and gums causing pain and discomfort.

If supplied by a GDC-registered dentist then yes, a whitening kit is the best way to whiten your teeth. Non professional over-the-counter kits and those provided by beauty spas use low-strength gels, powders and UV technologies, which do not have the same result.