It is a situation many people are familiar with; going on to social media to see photos posted from that day out with friends, to then notice how yellow their teeth look!

In modern society, it is fairly difficult to avoid enamel staining, even if you have a healthy diet and brush each day. Many fruit juices and commonly consumed drinks like coffee and tea are high in acids, which can stain the teeth, no matter how much you brush!

So, while you could vow to never consume coffee or fruit juice again, there is an easier solution to dental staining.

At Orpington Dental, our cosmetic team can offer all of our patients teeth whitening in Orpington, to remove deeply set stains from their tooth enamel in as little as 2 weeks! Using a mixture of tooth whitening in the surgery and techniques at home, we can gently remove stains from the enamel, without causing additional sensitivity or discomfort during the procedure.

Have some questions about how we manage that? Of course, you do! Here are some of your most commonly asked questions about teeth whitening in Orpington answered.

How long will the whitening last?

As much as we would like it to, dental whitening doesn’t last forever.

At Orpington Dental, once our dentist has whitened your teeth, we will provide you with a ‘top-up’ gel, so you can keep the whiteness of your teeth for as long as possible. However, if you consume a lot of fruit juice, coffee or tea, then the effects of the whitening could begin to fade in as little as one month.

I have fillings – can I have my teeth whitened?

Studies have found that whitening products used by dentists do not cause damage to either metal or composite fillings.

However, one issue with undertaking teeth whitening in Orpington if you have multiple tooth coloured fillings is that the composite will not lighten along with the teeth, creating an uneven look.

In this instance, our team will discuss with you alternative options to tooth whitening, such as refitting of fillings to match the new shade of your teeth or porcelain veneers.

How do you remove the stains without brushing?

Many people assume that deeply set stains are removed by dentists through excessive scrubbing; this would not only be uncomfortable for you but it would also be ineffectual.

In whitening today, oxidising gels are applied to the surface of the teeth, which remove deep-set stains without causing damage to the enamel or discomfort.

This process can lighten your teeth by up to 16 shades and can be completed in as little as one hour.

I have sensitive teeth – can I have my teeth whitened?

While it is possible to whiten sensitive teeth, our dental team does not recommend it.

If your sensitivity is caused by microscopic holes in your enamel, our whitening gels will inevitably seep into these cavities and hit the nerve of your tooth, causing you discomfort. A sensible alternative in this situation to traditional whitening is to have porcelain veneers fitted.