Is teeth whitening with a bleaching set a good idea?
Everywhere there are different people and organizations where you can have your teeth whitened. Everyone can whiten teeth, including you! With a bleaching set you can easily whiten your teeth at home. But is it actually such a good idea to do that? We explain this in this article.
What is a bleaching set?
A bleaching set, also known as a bleaching kit, is a set that contains all the necessities for bleaching your own teeth. A set usually consists of a bleach and two bits or spoons. Apply the bleach to every bit. Then place the bits for some time around your teeth. How long you have to do this and how often you need to repeat this operation depends entirely on the bleaching agent.
In order not to get in the way of the desired result, it is important that you only eat white food and drink 48 hours after the treatment. Make sure that you do not consume any products that contain colorants. These products can considerably disrupt the effect of the treatment.
How do you get a bleaching set?
There are different ways to get a bleaching set. We list the most common ones below.
Dentist
It is possible to get a bleaching set through some dentists. If you want a bleaching set, you can indicate this at your dentist. Before he gives you a bleaching set, he will first check the condition of your teeth and gums. If you have cavities, a very thin layer of tooth enamel and / or inflamed gums, the dentist may choose not to give you a bleaching set. The condition of your teeth is then not good enough to bleach. It is of course very good that a dentist does this, although you can of course also secretly see it as a disadvantage.
If the dentist believes that you can get a bleaching kit home, he will make customized bleaching spoons for you. You will not immediately receive a bleaching set at the dentist.
Brush your teeth well
This sounds logical, but it is very important to brush your teeth well. Is there an attack and / or tartar on your teeth? Then it is best to have this removed by the dentist or dental hygienist. Scale and tartar can considerably affect the appearance of your teeth and you obviously don’t want that.
Stores
You can also buy a bleaching set in a store, such as a drugstore. However, such a bleaching set is generally not very effective. This is due to the bleach that is found in most bleaching sets in stores. Shops and web shops may no longer sell bleach containing more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide was mainly used in high levels for teeth whitening in 2012. Bleaching agents to which a high content of hydrogen peroxide has been added have actually proved to be very effective. However, a high percentage of hydrogen peroxide also causes a lot of damage to the teeth. Dentists and dental hygienists are still allowed to work with a high enough percentage to whiten teeth, namely 6%. (Web) stores may only sell products that do not contain more than 0.1%. However, this percentage is too low to actually whiten teeth. It is therefore better not to use a bleaching set from a store.
Webshops
Many bleach sets can be found online. The big advantage of online shopping is that you can also shop in foreign web stores. As a result, you can also get bleach sets of which the bleaching agent contains 6% or higher of hydrogen peroxide. However, products that you buy in foreign web shops are not sure whether they are safe to use. Moreover, with foreign bleaching agents you never know for sure how much hydrogen peroxide the product actually contains. To be sure that you do not cause permanent damage to your teeth, it is better not to bleach with a bleaching set from a foreign webshop.
Is teeth whitening at home a good idea?
It seems ideal: whitening your teeth yourself at home. You do not have to leave the house and you can do it entirely at your own convenience. But is it such a good idea to whiten your own teeth at home?
Why do people want to whiten their teeth at home?
Most people like whiter teeth. Nowadays people want that as quickly as possible, without having to do too much effort. Moreover, there are all sorts of inexpensive means to help you whiten your teeth at home. All these things are seen by people who like to whiten their teeth as major benefits.
How can you bleach your teeth at home?
There are enough resources on the market to try and whiten your teeth at home. Below we explain what we think about the most common resources.
Whitened toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste is a toothpaste whose brand promises that you will get whiter teeth when you brush your teeth with it. However, nothing could be further from the truth: there is very little bleach in bleaching toothpaste, which means your teeth will not become whiter.
Whitening strips
Nowadays there are not so many whitening strips on the market, but they still exist. The 3D Crest White Strips seem to work well and are the most popular strips for bleaching teeth. However, a major disadvantage of these strips is that they can hurt the teeth.
Bleach kits
All kinds of bleaching kits can be found online, which contain all the stuff and resources needed to whiten your own teeth at home. However, it is not possible to say 100% of the bleaching agents in these kits whether they meet the requirements set in 2012. This also makes it impossible to guarantee whether these bleaches are safe for the teeth. I therefore strongly advise against ordering and using a bleaching kit online. Your teeth may look radiant white in the short term, but in the longer term the bleaching agents will most likely damage the teeth.
Conclusion: every bleaching set has its disadvantages
Yes, it is possible to whiten your own teeth at home. But no, I do not recommend that you do it.
There are different ways to get bleach sets. However, every way has its disadvantages. Do you want to be sure that your teeth are bleaching properly? Then it is better for someone who specializes in doing this. For these reasons, I think it’s best not to bleach your teeth with a bleaching set. To ensure that your teeth are bleached by an experienced professional and in a safe manner, it is best to have your teeth whitened by your dentist.
