Teeth whitening how does it work

Even though the whitening gel is only on your teeth for a limited amount of time, it will remain effective for the first 24 hours after application.

At this point, you are probably wondering how an LED light can help this process along. An LED, or light-emitting diode, releases a single color of light on the visible light spectrum when exposed to electricity.

In the past UV, or ultraviolet light, was used to aid in the whitening process. However, UV light has been found to cause cell mutations that can lead to cancer. LED lights require minimal power, are long-lasting, and do not require a warming up period to be effective. Although their light is more intense than other types of light, they are also much cooler due to their ability to dissipate heat. All these things make them an ideal light for teeth whitening.

LED lights are used in teeth whitening procedures for one key reason: research has shown they speed up the chemical reactions that remove the stains from teeth. As mentioned before, whitening agents are effective for 24 hours. Therefore, speeding up the chemical reactions simply means that more stains can be removed during this time period. Ultimately, the more stains that are removed, the brighter your smile will be. On average, LED teeth whitening can lighten your smile shades during a single whitening session.

The whitening effect won't last as long if you smoke or drink red wine, tea or coffee, which can all stain your teeth. No matter what treatment you use, there's a chance your gums will be sensitive to the chemicals used in teeth whitening, particularly if you already have sensitive teeth. There's also a chance of burns to gums and some of the whitening kits used at home can harm tooth enamel. If you're concerned that teeth whitening by a dental professional has harmed you, contact the Dental Complaints Service on This is an expert, free and independent service that can help if you have a complaint about private dental care.

If you think your teeth whitening has been carried out illegally that is, by someone not qualified or registered to perform it contact the General Dental Council on or email illegalpractice gdc-uk. Read more about how to look after your teeth. Page last reviewed: 31 August Next review due: 31 August Teeth whitening - Healthy body Secondary navigation Body Bones Food for healthy bones Keep bones healthy over 65 Are you at risk of falling? Foot problems and the podiatrist Looking after your feet with diabetes How to stop smelly feet.

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Teeth whitening is a simple process. Whitening products contain one of two tooth bleaches hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. These bleaches break stains into smaller pieces, which makes the color less concentrated and your teeth brighter. For example, yellow teeth will probably bleach well, brown teeth may not respond as well and teeth with gray tones may not bleach at all. Whitening will not work on caps, veneers , crowns or fillings. Overuse of whiteners can also damage the tooth enamel or gums, so be sure to follow directions and talk to your dentist.