On top of healthy and harmonious teeth, our ideal of a beautiful smile is tied to the whiteness of our teeth. The factors that alter the natural white colour of our teeth can be divided in two kinds: external and internal ones. The former are caused by food, drink, mouthwashes and smoking. The pigments that these contain cause superficial discolouring. The latter are caused by substances contained in certain pharmaceutical drugs, genetic disease, and aging. Whitening products work by releasing oxygen molecules into the enamel and dentine. This breaks up the molecules of the colour alteration. Toothpastes and other whitening products can have some effect on superficial stains, but not on the pigments within the enamel. Scientific literature proves that the only principle that really neutralizes these pigments is the oxygen released by professional whitening treatments. Teeth whitening only works on the natural colour of teeth.

Teeth whitening can be done:

• professionally in a clinic
• professionally at home, using made to measure strips to be worn overnight by the patient