Teeth whitening: safe or harmful?

"Whitening destroys enamel", "your teeth will become brittle", "it will ruin them for good" — a great many fears surround the subject. In fact professional whitening under a doctor's supervision is a safe procedure. What causes harm is not the method but unsupervised shop-bought products and folk recipes. Let us look at what works and what does not.

Does whitening harm the enamel?

No. A professional gel acts on the pigment inside the tooth and lightens it; it does not strip or thin the enamel. Before the procedure the doctor protects the gums and any exposed tooth necks, and modern gels contain remineralising components. Problems arise when people whiten at home with unknown products and no examination, or scrub their teeth with baking soda, lemon or activated charcoal — those really are abrasive and dangerous for enamel and gums.

Debunking the myths

Myth: the enamel gets thinner. The gel lightens pigment; it removes no tooth tissue. Myth: teeth become brittle. Controlled whitening does not change the strength of enamel. Myth: the result is permanent. It is not — the shade returns over time, so maintenance is needed. Myth: any teeth can be whitened to Hollywood white. There is a natural limit; and crowns, veneers and fillings do not whiten at all. Myth: folk methods are safe. Baking soda, lemon and charcoal are abrasive and damage enamel.

Which methods really work

Two professional approaches work, and they work best together:

• In-office (lamp) whitening — at the clinic, in a single session. At Houston this is the BEYOND II Ultra system (a well-known equivalent is Zoom): about 20 teeth in 60 minutes, a result of two to four shades, under the doctor's supervision and with the gums protected.
• Home whitening in custom trays (the ART Whitening course) — a lower gel concentration, gentler on sensitivity, and at your own pace. It suits maintenance well.

Shop-bought strips, whitening pens and folk methods, by contrast, give either a weak, unstable effect or a real risk to enamel and gums. The best and longest-lasting result comes from whitening after a professional cleaning. There is more about the procedure on the teeth whitening page.

The methods are often combined: a session at the clinic plus maintenance at home

Where the sensitivity comes from

Brief sensitivity is possible during and after whitening, usually for 12 to 24 hours. It is a normal reaction and passes on its own. The risk is reduced by protecting the gums, by gels with remineralising components, and by the lower concentrations used in home trays.

How long the result lasts

Without maintenance the result lasts about a year; with a home course in trays, three to five years. The chief enemies of whiteness are coffee, tea, red wine, food colourings and smoking. Occasional maintenance at home keeps the shade for far longer.

Who whitening is not for

Whitening is postponed during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Decay, exposed necks, cracks and gum disease are treated first, and only then does whitening follow. That is why the procedure always begins with an examination and a professional cleaning, never blind.

Frequently asked questions