Cosmetic dentistry had been on the rise over the last year, influenced by the rise of video conferencing and how this has ensured we are more aware of our faces and our mouths.
One of the fastest and most efficient ways to whiten your teeth is through teeth whitening, either through home treatment, in-person laser treatment or a hybrid treatment such as Enlighten Evolution whitening.
However, because there are so many products on the market, it is important to know how teeth whitening works to find treatments that are effective.
Here is how teeth whitening works and the difference between treatments.
The Principle
Teeth whitening, sometimes called teeth bleaching, is when a bleaching agent is used to lighten your teeth by several shades by entering the tooth and breaking down molecules that cause the yellowing effect on your teeth.
The main ingredient used in most whitening products is hydrogen peroxide, typically in the form of a gel, which is applied to the teeth using a specially developed tray or using whitening strips depending on the treatment.
Typically, the difference between treatments is how much hydrogen peroxide is in the whitening solution as home whitening solutions legally cannot contain more than 0.1 per cent, and professional kits with more of the active ingredient can only be used by a dental professional.
As well as this, some treatments have a light or laser treatment which rapidly activates the whitening gel and provides more pronounced effects.