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How To Whiten Teeth

19 July 2021
What is the best way to whiten my teeth? Everybody!

This is one of the most common questions we get asked.

Everyone wants that whiter, brighter smile

The truth is, there are a quite a number of ways to whiten your teeth - but not all of them are equally effective..

We have categorised the different types of teeth whitening treatments out there into natural methods, more professional methods, and finally, we advise based on the situation your teeth may be in.

Natural Teeth Whitening Methods

TypeDescriptionVerdict
CharcoalActivated charcoal can be used to remove stains from your teeth. It's claimed that charcoal can remove stains and whiten your teeth due to its absorbency.Not recommended. There is no evidence that it has any effect on stains below a tooth's enamel, or that it has a natural whitening effect.
Baking SodaWe don't recommend using baking soda but if you have been, don't use baking soda for whitening purposes more than twice a week.Not recommended. If it's overused, it can cause tooth sensitivity and increase the risk for cavities.
Tin FoilTin (or aluminium) foil is a so-called 'teeth whitening hack' that has grown out of hand in recent times.Not recommended. This is too abrasive to put on your teeth and can damage the enamel on your teeth.

Professional Teeth Whitening Methods

TypeDescriptionVerdict
Laser Teeth WhiteningThis is the process of whitening your teeth using strong bleach and a high powered light - for between 60 and 90 minutes. See our post on Pros and Cons of Laser Teeth Whitening for more information.Not recommended. This treatment works, however it typically lasts for a shorter time (than other methods) due to the initial dehydration of the teeth.
Teeth Whitening StripsThese are gel strips that you push on the front of your teeth and fold over to whiten the back of your teeth.Not recommended. Teeth whitening strips have been known to remove the enamel from your teeth which can cause sensitivity.
Teeth Whitening KitsOur favourite way to whiten teeth! See below.Highly recommended!

3Dental At Home Teeth Whitening Kits

The teeth whitening kit we recommend in 3Dental is a home based kit. We take moulds of your teeth which allow us to make you a set of custom whitening trays.

We then provide you with your custom made trays and four tubes of gel bleach with a home instruction pack.

You fit the trays in your mouth with the gel and over time your teeth will become whiter.

We will instruct you on the 'do's and don'ts' in person - but our patients find the home instruction pack really helpful also! The home instruction pack will also walk you through how to clean and maintain the trays.

We also supply ongoing bleach top-ups for the trays as required.

How To Whiten Teeth Under The Following Conditions

TypeDescription
Thin EnamelBleaching products won't help in this situation because they don't affect the dentin.
After BracesNormally after braces you will begin wearing retainers. The only thing that may be an issue here is if you were to wear the whitening tray instead of the retainer itself - by mistake! In this situation, unfortunately, the teeth could move back to their original position. Some people find their teeth can be extra sensitive after braces come off.
After VeneersWhitening with veneers won't change the colour of the veneers themselves because they are made a specific colour in the lab so normally it would be suggested to whiten your teeth first before the veneer is fitted.
Decayed TeethWe advise against whitening decayed teeth. This is because the bleach used can cause the nerve to react and damage it more. Normally the teeth would have to be filled first and then you can use the whitening treatment. However, this still can cause sensitivity as it can vary from person to person.

Enlighten Whitening

vita tooth colour chart - b1 - enlighten whitening

We have recently added Enlighten whitening to our range of teeth whitening treatments.

Enlighten whitening provides a range of great benefits including:

  • Being gentle on your teeth and gums
  • The * VITA B1 shade guarantee

* The VITA tooth colour chart, is a standardized system used by dentists to communicate the colour of teeth.

VITA B1 is the brightest natural shade on the VITA Classical A1-D4 tooth colour chart.

Find out more on our Enlighten whitening page.

So... What IS The Best Way To Whiten Your Teeth?

teeth whitening trays

There you have it folks. There are quite a number of ways to whiten your teeth. We have seen them all, over the years.

We are proud to recommend our very own teeth whitening kit. Provided you follow our clear instructions, you will get the results you are looking for.

We offer free consultations at our DublinLimerick and Galway and would love to talk to you about how we can whiten your smile!

Recent Reviews

Owen

“Never bothered by having to go to the dentist again. I had to get whitening, bonding and a crown done over the space of a year and it was a great experience. The team are A1 and Fergal is a great...”

Keith O'Brien

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Viv van der Holst

“Firstly apologies for the delay in writing this review. I have been too busy smiling again :) And chewing food normally. I cannot express enough the gratitude I feel towards Dr Andoni Jones and his...”

Sean Dentur

“I got 6 implants over past 2 years in 3Dental. Very efficient/professional and kind staff. Would highly recommend them.”

Whitney Culleton

“I had an consultation for composite bonding with a female dentist back in December and I left not feeling great about the app so rather than leaving a bad review I reached out to Dr Niall for a...”

Tara Henshaw

“I had composite bonding done with Dr Carmen and gingivectomy with Dr Andoni Jones , they were both brilliant. Thanks so much to them both they were so friendly and so good at their job I'm delighted...”

Caitlin Morrison

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Jane Russell

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Caroline O'Brien

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Zoe Bates

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Abby Garcia

“Excellent place and fantastic job. I'm so happy with my veneers. I've wanted normal teeth for over 30 years and I'm so so happy with the results achieved by Dr Daniel Kim. Such a nice guy and really...”

Laura O'Brien

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Michelle Walsh

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Nicola Myler

“An accident happened the weekend with my front tooth veneer I am from Waterford and couldn't get an appointment down here for another 2 weeks so I was so upset and my sister told me to ring 3Dental...”

Helen Redmond

“Amazing experience with 3Dental. Got Invisalign which didn't move one tooth. Needed to get fixed braces but it was seamless. Also had my braces during Covid pandemic. Although I could go to the...”

Emma Keating

“I had composite bonding done here by Dr Carmen. She was very patient and made sure I was completely happy with the final result before I left, she even offered to fix anything I was unhappy with...”

Lyle Andre

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The Scarlet Gamer

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Lorraine Fleming

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