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Teeth whitening – is it safe?

There has been a lot of media attention devoted to the dangers of teeth whitening recently, with reports that some beauty salons are continuing to offer the service illegally, even after having been prosecuted for doing so.

This has understandably caused a lot of consternation among the general public, especially as the popularity of teeth whitening treatments continues to soar – which is no doubt why so many are trying to cash in on it.

The truth is that teeth whitening is a very safe procedure, if it is carried out by a qualified, trained professional, such as Bristol dentist Cornelius Krause, chief dentist here at CK Dental.

Who is allowed to perform tooth whitening?

Only trained dental professionals, such as dentists and dental hygienists are legally allowed to carry out in-clinic teeth whitening procedures, according to the Dentists Act 1984.

This means that it is totally illegal for beauticians or beauty therapists to offer the procedure, although many of them are doing so.

What can happen if teeth whitening goes wrong?

In the hands of a dental professional, it is highly unlikely that anything could go wrong during a tooth whitening procedure. However, tooth whitening kits usually contain the bleach hydrogen peroxide, which can cause damage to the teeth and gums if used incorrectly. If the tray used to whiten the teeth does not fit properly, it is possible for some of the bleach to be swallowed, which can be very dangerous.

How can I get my teeth whitened safely?

By visiting a trained dental professional, such as Bristol dentist Cornelius Krause. It may be tempting to get a cut-price treatment at a beauty salon, but it is never worth risking your health for the sake of saving a few pounds.

In the right hands, tooth whitening is a very safe, highly effective treatment.

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Dental implants versus dentures: why pay more?

For most of the patients we see here at CK Dental in Bristol who are suffering from missing teeth, the one thing that is holding them back from opting for dental implants over dentures, or ‘false teeth’, is the cost.

There is no denying that implants do come at a much higher price point than dentures, but they do also come with several advantages, and could even save you money in the long term. Here are just some of the reasons why implants are the better choice:

Implants are securely bonded to your jaw

That means they won’t slip around and become noticeable, they won’t get stuck in certain foods and they won’t make it difficult for you to talk. In fact, implants look, feel and behave exactly like your natural teeth.

Dentures, on the other hand, can move around within the mouth, causing problems with eating and speaking. In fact, some of the patients we have seen at our Bristol dentist practice have even found that this slippage has caused sores in the mouth, where their dentures have rubbed against the gums.

Implants are permanent

Whilst you do of course need to take care of your dental implants, just as you would your natural teeth, they are a permanent solution to the problem of missing teeth. Dentures, on the other hand, need more daily care than your natural teeth and will eventually need to be replaced.

Implants help to preserve the face

Loss of teeth can be very ageing, not just because of the visible gaps in your smile, but because your jaw can recede as a result, causing your face to sink downwards. Implants help to preserve the gum and bone of the jaw, preventing this recession, whereas dentures can only hide the gaps where your teeth are missing.

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Invisalign: What’s in it for you?

We make a big deal of our Invisalign invisible braces system here at CK Dental in Bristol, but it may not be obvious to you, the patient, why Invisalign is preferable to traditional braces for teeth straightening.

With that in mind, we wanted to outline exactly how Invisalign compares to metal braces, weighing up the pros and cons of each system.

Cost

Many people believe that Invisalign is significantly more expensive than traditional teeth straightening devices, but that is not necessarily the case. In fact, depending on the severity of the problem to be treated, in some cases Invisalign can actually be cheaper than braces.

Duration of treatment

Generally, Invisalign patients find that their problem has been resolved within 18 months, although this does of course vary depending on patient needs. Patients wearing metal braces wear them on average for about two years.

Frequency of dentist visits

With traditional brace systems, patients need to return to their dentist to have the braces tightened around once a month. Because this “tightening” is performed at home for Invisalign, we generally advise that patients return to our Bristol dental practice every four to six weeks for a check-up, changing aligner trays at home every two weeks.

Discomfort/inconvenience

Both Invisalign and metal braces will cause patients a small amount of discomfort at some point. With Invisalign this discomfort is mostly associated with the movement of the teeth, whereas with metal braces there may also be some pain from the wires or brackets rubbing against the gums and inner cheeks.

The level of inconvenience perceived to be associated with each teeth straightening system will vary from patient to patient – some people find it an annoyance to have to remove their invisible brace before eating, others find this an advantage as there is no need to limit their diet, as there may be with traditional metal braces.

Overall, the team here at Bristol dentist practice CK Dental has found Invisalign to be an extremely effective system for teeth straightening, with many advantages over traditional devices.

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Protect your teeth this Bonfire Night

We are entering into a dangerous time of year for teeth – from Halloween to Bonfire Night to Christmas, the shops are full of sugary treats and it can be difficult for the most self-disciplined of us to resist everything. So, what can we do to keep our teeth healthy this winter? And, more specifically, how can we persuade our children to do the same? The team here at CK Dental in Bristol has come up with a few ideas that shouldn’t be too difficult to implement:

Try to offer healthy alternatives

Kids will be desperate for toffee apples on bonfire night, but could you distract them with a healthier option? Making popcorn at home could be a great way to replicate the fun of fireworks whilst also providing a sugar-free snack to enjoy during the display.

Keep drinking water

Whether you are having a bonfire at home or going out to a big public display, try to keep a bottle of water to hand and ensure that you and the children drink from it regularly, particularly if there are sugary snacks on the go. This will help to wash the sugar off your teeth, avoiding too much build-up.

Don’t skip brushing – however late they are to bed

When the kids have been up late watching a firework display, it’s always tempting to miss out the whole bath time routine, just to ensure they get as much sleep as possible. However, skipping tooth brushing is a dangerous precedent to set, especially on a night when they may have enjoyed the odd sugary treat.

Do ensure that you leave it at least half an hour between the last snack and tooth brushing though – if you brush too soon, the enamel on your teeth will still be softened from the sugar and you risk doing more harm than good.

For more tips, or to book an appointment with our Bristol dentist, please contact us.

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