A teeth whitening kit is a great way to get a brighter, more dazzling smile, which is why it’s such a popular teeth whitening system. But, not all of them are created equal. Some may work better for you than others, so it’s good to get some insight into how they work and to find the best teeth whitening kit for you.
Causes of tooth discolouration
The best place to start is to explain what causes tooth discolouration. We’ve broken the causes down into three parts: extrinsic causes, intrinsic causes and age.
Extrinsic causes
Extrinsic causes are from things that come into contact with your teeth and cause discolouration or staining. These can be everyday food and drinks that can cause discolouration. Some examples are:
Coffee and tea
Fizzy drinks
Red wine
Dark coloured juices, like cranberry or grape juice
Some berries, like blueberries
Beetroot
Soy sauce
Tomato based sauces
Tobacco
Poor dental hygiene
Intrinsic causes
Intrinsic causes are from something inside your teeth or body and are not always avoidable. Here are some examples:
Certain medication or medical treatments can cause discolouration
An injury to your tooth may cause discolouration
Tooth decay (this is why it’s really important to visit your dental professional regularly and to follow an effective oral health regime)
Genetics from your parents
Age-related causes
It’s inevitable that you’ll get older and, as you do, the enamel on your teeth starts to wear away. When it does this, the dentin (the layer beneath your enamel) starts to show. The colour of dentin isn’t white, which is why your teeth look discoloured. Also, both extrinsic and intrinsic causes over time will cause discolouration.
Do teeth whitening kits work?
The great news about some teeth whitening kits is that they generally do work! But, you may find that some work better for you than others. This could depend on the types of stains you have, whether they’re just surface stains or deep-set ones. Whether a teeth whitening products work will also depend on the ingredients they have in them and whether those ingredients just remove surface stains or deeper ones.
When choosing an at-home teeth whitening kit, you should look for one that comes from a reputable brand. Also pay close attention to the claims they have, such as “clinically proven” and “enamel-safe”.
Each teeth whitening kit will come with a different claim on how much whiter they can make your teeth. However, you should know that, a lot of the time, this is the maximum amount they’ve been proven to work. Your own experience with a teeth whitening kit will be different some someone else’s.
Rather than using traditional moulds with a gel, we’ve developed our Max White Ultimate LED Whitening Kit slightly differently. It comes with a whitening pen that contains a serum that you’ll paint onto each tooth, before wearing the specially developed LED light tray. Our serum dries really quickly, so there’s no mess to deal with, and you’ll only have to wear the comfit fit tray for 10 minutes, twice a day. The LED light is also powered by your smartphone, so there’s also no need to worry about replacing batteries either.
How long does it take for a teeth whitening kit to work?
This will very much depend from brand to brand and whitening kit to whitening kit. Another factor will also include the types of stains and discolouration you have on your teeth. If, for example, someone only has slight surface stains, they may find that a whitening kit works quickly. However, if you have deep-set stains, it may take a bit longer.
Before you choose the best teeth whitening kit for you, read the information carefully to see what the manufacturer claims.
Are teeth whitening kits safe?
Generally speaking, yes they are safe. But, as with anything, when applying chemicals to your teeth, you should always be careful and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. These instructions will include the amount of time and frequency you should use your teeth whitening kit. You should never exceed the recommended amount of time and frequency you use your whitening kit.
When choosing a teeth whitening kit online, make sure it does not contain more than the legally allowed 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. If you do decide to use a whitening kit with a higher level of peroxide, you should only even get this from a reputable, registered dental professional.
