There are numerous options available on the market to help whiten your teeth. But how well do they work? More importantly, is teeth whitening safe? Our cosmetic dentistry team highlights the options for teeth whitening, including activated charcoal products, LED treatments, and at-home kits versus professional treatments.
Different Options and Types of Teeth Whitening
Two types of teeth-whitening products work hand in hand. They are physical, meaning they physically remove stains or detritus from your teeth, and chemical, using specific solutions to bleach the enamel. The different types have different benefits and drawbacks, depending on your teeth and your desired results.
Physical. These products physically remove stains from tooth surfaces. Most toothpaste – whitening or otherwise – uses this method to keep your teeth looking clean. The bristles of your toothbrush help your toothpaste remove stains and debris from your teeth.
Chemical. Unlike physical abrasion, chemical bleaching uses specific solutions to whiten teeth without damaging enamel. These products include whitening strips, gel-filled mouth trays, and rinses that contain bleaching agents such as carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. Most of these products are similar to those used by dentists in their offices. However, take-home products typically have a much lower concentration of chemicals for your safety.
Do These Products Work?
Dentists agree that both types of teeth-whitening products are effective, though their effectiveness varies based on the condition of the teeth and the desired outcome.
Physical teeth-whitening products are more effective at removing extrinsic stains. This refers to blemishes on the surface of your teeth. This means the abrasive properties of the physical product can effectively remove the stain and restore your teeth’s natural shine.
However, stains or discolouration can also be intrinsic. This means that rather than being on the surface of your teeth, the stain is beneath a layer of enamel called dentin. These stains are more challenging to deal with, as your toothbrush can’t remove them. Intrinsic stains can also result from specific antibiotic treatments in childhood or from acute dental trauma.
Chemical products are much more effective at handling intrinsic stains. However, depending on the severity, some over-the-counter products may not be strong enough to whiten your teeth. In such cases, it is best to visit your dentist, who can safely apply stronger bleaching agents to your teeth.
Is LED Teeth Whitening Safe?
An LED teeth-whitening treatment uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to replace ultraviolet (UV) light, which was previously linked to cancerous cell mutations. LED light is more intense and dissipates heat, making it an ideal solution for teeth whitening.
LED lights, when combined with whitening agents, can be an effective method for removing stubborn stains, as they accelerate the chemical reactions within a specified time window.
There is also debate about the effectiveness of specific LED home-whitening kits that claim to whiten teeth. For example, although they claim to activate bleaching agents in whitening strips, LED light whitening kits have yet to deliver significant results to substantiate this claim. The whitening strips may still have their intended effect, but it remains unclear whether at-home LED lights have a substantial effect.
For in-clinic LED teeth whitening treatments, such as those offered at TEETH @ Tiong Bahru, results can lighten your smile by 6 to 8 shades in a single session. Our professional teeth-whitening treatments (BlancOne® Click or Ultra) take 10 or 30 minutes, respectively, and are safe and effective, with minimal side effects, if any.
The main difference between our professional treatments and at-home options is the intensity of the 10-LED blue-arc light used to cure and activate the bleaching gel; this light typically doesn’t dehydrate or cause irritation in most patients.
Teeth whitening is also not permanent. Results can last from a few weeks to a year, depending on the type of product used or whether you visited your dentist for treatment. It’s essential to continue taking care of your teeth and avoid certain habits that can lead to darker teeth, such as smoking, from the outset.
Charcoal Teeth Whitening: Is It Safe?
Charcoal “activated” whitening toothpastes have become all the rage. It’s believed that charcoal can remove pigmentation and stains from teeth because it’s highly absorbent and also helps eliminate bacteria and toxins that can lead to gum disease.
However, there is no scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of charcoal “activated” whitening toothpastes in whitening teeth, nor is there evidence to suggest they are safe. The American Dental Association does not recommend it, as activated charcoal can be too abrasive and may damage teeth. The fine-grained powder is made from various ingredients, includingcoconut, olive pits, wood chips, and peat.
In some cases, your teeth may not respond to over-the-counter teeth-whitening products, such as charcoal-based products, due to their grittiness. The abrasive properties may remove surface stains and plaque from your teeth, but essentially, they eliminate the tooth’s surface enamel. With repeated use, the “charcoal” can wear through the top layer of the tooth (enamel), revealing the softer dentin beneath, which can make your teeth appear more yellow.
Patients who undergo orthodontic treatment want their teeth to be as bright as possible once their braces are removed. Is charcoal teeth whitening safe for people with braces? Using activated charcoal products is not recommended, and it’s best to wait until your braces are fully removed before having your teeth’s surface professionally whitened to remove darker enamel patches.
If you’re using Invisalign clear aligners, we recommend whitening gels as an alternative to charcoal-based products. Consult one of our dentists about your concerns, and we’ll recommend a solution that works for your lifestyle and goals.
Everyone’s teeth are different, as are their stains. The enamel may absorb the agents differently, making it hard to predict results. For the most consistent results, it’s best to visit your dentist if you’re concerned about whether using charcoal to whiten teeth is safe. Our knowledgeable dentist can assess your teeth and give you the best treatment.
Are Teeth Whitening Products Safe?
All teeth-whitening products are generally safe; however, their use may pose risks. For example, whitening toothpastes may be safe, but if you brush too vigorously or too often, you can wear down your teeth’s enamel. It’s also essential that you choose a toothpaste that is not too abrasive to ensure your safety.
At-home teeth whitening treatment kits are also designed to be safe when used as instructed. Using products for longer than recommended can harm your teeth, as can using products with too high a chemical concentration. It’s safer to use products with lower concentrations and to follow the instructions strictly. The last thing you want when trying to whiten your teeth is to inadvertently damage them.
Though these products can whiten your teeth, it’s important to note that whitening is a cosmetic procedure. Clean teeth are often white. This, however, does not mean white teeth are clean. To maintain proper dental hygiene, you must keep your brushing, rinsing, and flossing regimen to ensure your teeth stay white and healthy.
Because these products are designed for your safety, it’s essential to pay attention if anything feels off.
“Pain is your body sending you a signal that something is wrong. Pain in your teeth tells you that you are either overdoing the treatment, misapplying it, or need to visit your dentist for immediate care”, says Dr Sherina Daryanani, principal dental surgeon at TEETH @ Tiong Bahru in Singapore.
Use a take-home maintenance protocol rather than a more intensive intervention annually, and maintain an ongoing take-home protocol.
Why Whitening Over Other Procedures?
Whitening is considered a less invasive and more cost-effective procedure than other cosmetic procedures, such as permanent veneers. It’s preferable to at least attempt whitening before more expensive and complex procedures, such as veneers, or to determine whether you can achieve your desired results. Many other cosmetic procedures are more difficult to reverse, whereas whitening can deliver faster results with minimal risk.
It is important to note that whitening procedures do not work on any dental hardware, such as fillings or crowns. The bleaching agents are designed specifically for your natural teeth. If your fillings were designed to match a darker shade of your tooth, they will stand out when you use whitening products. That said, your dentist can tend to those mismatches by covering them up.
If you are interested in teeth whitening, ask your dentist at your next 6-monthly dental appointment. Your dentist can recommend the best option for your overall oral health.
Your dentist will also provide you with a tailor-made tray, designed to fit your mouth perfectly. Opalescence is a suitable option for patients with sensitive teeth who may experience discomfort with other over-the-counter treatments.
Opalescence is one of the many teeth-whitening options available at TEETH @ Tiong Bahru. If you want a brighter smile. In the end, everybody’s teeth are different. The natural colour of your teeth, enamel porosity, and tooth sensitivity can affect your response to whitening treatments.
When in doubt, check with one of TEETH @ Tiong Bahru’s experienced dentists.
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