Lots of people want a whiter, brighter smile. The harder question is how to get there. There are several ways to whiten your teeth, and they differ a lot in cost, speed, strength and how even the results look.<\/p>\n
This guide walks you through the main options: in-chair whitening at the dentist, custom take-home trays, and over-the-counter products like strips and toothpaste. It also covers why people whiten, what to expect from treatment, and how to look after your results.<\/p>\n
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic treatment. It doesn’t change the health of your teeth, but it can change how you feel about your smile. Common reasons people give include:<\/p>\n
Some people also find that once they’ve whitened, they’re more motivated to keep up with brushing, flossing and cutting back on staining habits so their results last longer.<\/p>\n
Whitening options fall into three broad groups:<\/p>\n
Here’s how each one works.<\/p>\n
With in-chair LED whitening, a dentist applies a hydrogen peroxide gel to your teeth and then uses an LED lamp to activate it. The gel works on the stains in your enamel to lift the colour. Your gums and the rest of your mouth are protected during the treatment.<\/p>\n
You usually see a change in a single appointment. Some people experience sensitivity afterwards.<\/p>\n
Laser whitening is a newer development that works in a similar way. The laser helps activate the whitening agent while your mouth is protected. Results can be visible straight after treatment and the appointment is generally quick.<\/p>\n
Laser whitening isn’t suitable for everyone, so your dentist will check whether it’s right for you first.<\/p>\n
In-chair whitening can suit people who want a noticeable change in one visit, for example before an event. The trade-offs are that it takes place in the chair rather than at your own pace, and sensitivity afterwards is common.<\/p>\n
Custom tray whitening is our preferred approach at smilogy, because the fit helps the gel reach every tooth for an even result.<\/p>\n
Generic trays and strips aren’t shaped to your mouth, so the gel may not reach around every tooth. That can leave the colour patchy. Custom trays hold the gel close against each tooth, including the gaps between them, which helps give a more even result.<\/p>\n
You choose how white you want to go from our smile shade menu, so you stay in control. If you want a subtle, natural lift, you can stop at a few shades brighter.<\/p>\n
Treatment typically involves wearing your trays for about 30 minutes a day, with results building over around 10 days. Your dentist will give you a plan that suits your teeth.<\/p>\n
Whitening strips are sold in stores across Australia. You place one strip over your top teeth and one over your bottom teeth.<\/p>\n
Strips are cheap and convenient, and some people see a change within a few days. They’re best suited to mild to moderate staining. Because they’re one-size-fits-all, you can’t choose your shade and the results may not be even.<\/p>\n
Whitening toothpastes contain agents that work gradually on surface stains. You won’t see results straight away, but you may notice a subtle difference over time.<\/p>\n
Whitening toothpaste won’t give you a big change, but it can be a handy top-up after professional whitening.<\/p>\n
Over-the-counter tray kits come with pre-shaped trays and a weaker gel. As with strips, the trays aren’t fitted to your teeth, so the gel may not reach every surface evenly.<\/p>\n
For a detailed side-by-side look at these options, read our guide to custom whitening vs over-the-counter kits<\/a>.<\/p>\n A quick way to compare:<\/p>\n The best choice depends on your teeth, the type of staining you have and your goals. A dentist can check your teeth and gums first and let you know what’s likely to work for you.<\/p>\n Some people get mild sensitivity during whitening. If that happens with take-home trays, you can try whitening on alternate days. Avoiding very hot or cold drinks for about 30 minutes after each session may also help. If you have any irritation or ongoing sensitivity, get in touch with your dentist.<\/p>\n While you’re whitening, try to avoid food and drinks that stain, such as coffee, tea and red wine. Smoking will also stain your teeth again, so cutting back can help your results last.<\/p>\n Brush twice a day, floss daily and keep up your regular check-ups<\/a>. Whitening toothpaste can help maintain your shade between treatments.<\/p>\n Yes. The gel our dentists provide is professional-strength, which is stronger than products you can buy off the shelf. Your dentist plans your treatment to help keep sensitivity to a minimum, and is on hand if you have any concerns.<\/p>\n Teeth whitening at smilogy is from $275. Your exact price is confirmed at your consultation. Payment plans<\/a> and private health cover<\/a> may help with costs.<\/p>\n Typically about 30 minutes a day for around 10 days, though your dentist will tailor this to you.<\/p>\n Not unless you want a very bright shade. With our smile shade menu you choose the level of whiteness, so you can go just a few shades brighter for a natural look.<\/p>\n No. Whitening is a cosmetic treatment. It’s still important to brush, floss and see your dentist regularly.<\/p>\n Ready for a brighter smile in the shade you choose? Book teeth whitening at edgecliff<\/a> or castle hill<\/a>, or book online<\/a> now. Our clinics are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.<\/p>\n While you’re here, you can also ask us about general dentistry<\/a>, clear aligners at edgecliff<\/a> or castle hill<\/a>, or a smile makeover<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" From in-chair LED and laser whitening to custom take-home trays and over-the-counter strips, here’s how each type of teeth whitening works and who it suits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":173,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ih-teeth-whitening"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilogy.com.au\/dental-clinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilogy.com.au\/dental-clinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilogy.com.au\/dental-clinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilogy.com.au\/dental-clinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilogy.com.au\/dental-clinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=171"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/smilogy.com.au\/dental-clinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":263,"href":"https:\/\/smilogy.com.au\/dental-clinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171\/revisions\/263"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilogy.com.au\/dental-clinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/173"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilogy.com.au\/dental-clinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilogy.com.au\/dental-clinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=171"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilogy.com.au\/dental-clinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}which option is right for you?<\/h2>\n
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what to know before you whiten<\/h2>\n
sensitivity<\/h3>\n
avoid staining foods and drinks<\/h3>\n
keep up your routine<\/h3>\n
faqs<\/h2>\n
is custom tray whitening stronger than over-the-counter kits?<\/h3>\n
how much does teeth whitening cost at smilogy?<\/h3>\n
how long does custom whitening take?<\/h3>\n
will whitening make my teeth look fake?<\/h3>\n
does whitening improve my oral health?<\/h3>\n
book your whitening consultation<\/h2>\n