Teeth whitening is as popular as ever. Today I learnt that Khloe Kardashian’s dentist uses the same teeth whitening system I use, it’s called Philips ZOOM Teeth Whitening. Amazing what you can find on snapchat… here’s some info about this system and common topics about teeth whitening.
Teeth whitening hacks
People choose to whiten their teeth because it can be a confidence booster. Also, some people may suffer from discolouration or uneven colour patterns on their front teeth and so they choose to whiten these areas. Anyone who’s looked into teeth whitening can tell you about the hacks they’ve tried:
- avoiding coffee, tea, soft drinks, red wine, smoking and highly coloured foods (for example: berries)
- drinking beverages which might stain your teeth, through a straw
- oil-pulling, other natural remedies or charcoal toothpaste
- whitening strips/toothpastes/other over the shelf options
If the results you’re getting are quite limited, then you might want to try in-chair teeth whitening.
Presenting to the dentist
A full checkup will help assess problem spots and whether you’re a good candidate for this type of treatment. For me, patient selection is key. This is followed by a thorough clean to remove gross strains and a chat about teeth whitening and predicting any barriers to achieving the optimum result.
Is teeth whitening safe?
Teeth whitening is safe under the supervision of a dentist. Gums are protected with a special barrier to prevent burns and irritation, and eyes are protected with special orange sunglasses. At Riverstone Family Dental I use hydrogen peroxide gel carefully and specifically on the teeth which need whitening (see our Insta video). You do not swallow this and it doesn’t make contact with anything but the teeth. When I apply it, I’m extremely careful about where I place it – this is important to make sure you don’t end up with patchy results. The LED lamp is specially designed to be used with this gel to produce the maximum whitening results in the shortest possible time.
Teeth whitening at home kits
The results last a long time depending on diet and habits. To help tackle relapse, I give my patients a take home kit which includes custom-made bleaching trays, anti-sensitivity toothpaste and written information. I recommend that when whitening your teeth, you should use products which help target sensitivity. Having the right tools on hand will not only allow us to lighten to the shade you want, but will also lessen the sensitivity you experience during and afterwards. More on this during your consultation with me…
Remember results may vary from person to person – which is why a thorough consultation is key.
At Riverstone Family Dental, we use the Philips ZOOM Whitening In-Chair Treatment System.
If you’d like a consultation call us on (02) 8678 3538.
Happy smiling!
