OK, so it’s probably too late for this year, but for many of us the idea of having bright, white teeth – at Christmas time or any other – would be a dream come true. However, lots of people who secretly aspire to having their teeth whitened put of doing so time and time again because of rumours they have heard about the dangers.

Here, the team at CK Dental practice in Bristol set you straight about some of those teeth whitening myths:

Myth 1: You shouldn’t get your teeth whitened before you are 30 years old

This one stems from the idea that if you get your teeth whitened before your full set of adult teeth have come through, you can end up with teeth of varying shades, and some with whiter tips and darker bases.

For this reason, teeth whitening for teenagers is not always an appropriate treatment, but the procedure can be very effective for people in their twenties, who usually do have their full set of teeth.

A dentist will usually check your teeth before going ahead with treatment, to minimise the risk of colour variations.

Myth 2: Teeth whitening is dangerous

In the long term, exposing the teeth to bleaching agents can cause damage to the enamel. This is why it is so important to have your teeth whitened professionally, by a dentist, who will understand and follow the correct EU guidelines to ensure that the procedure is both safe and effective.

In the short term, teeth whitening can make the teeth more sensitive, but this usually resolves itself in time. Again, if you see a dentist for your tooth whitening, they will be able to explain all of this to you.

Myth 3: Anyone can perform teeth whitening

Legally, only qualified dental professionals can perform tooth whitening in a clinic environment. Although a lot of beauty salons do advertise and perform the procedure, this is when tooth whitening becomes dangerous.

So long as you see a qualified dentist, teeth whitening is a very safe and effective procedure. Here at Bristol dental practice CK Dental, we use the Enlighten system, which is the technology leader in the tooth whitening market and clinically proven to be both safe and highly effective.