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Shining a Light on Teeth Whitening

By z4028582430, Nov 30 2017 10:05AM

Yeah yeah, it’s all been done before – countless times – but never by us, your trusted teeth whitening specialists. So, without further ado, let’s separate myth from fact when it comes to the increasingly popular – but oft-controversial – practice:

Over-the-counter toothpastes and strips are just as good as an in-clinic treatment

Wrong! Whilst these things do contain whitening chemicals, they are far too weak to have the same effect as the procedure carried out by a professional. You should notice the results from an in-clinic treatment immediately, unlike the at-home methods which can take a long time. As Dental Advisor at Oral Health Foundation, Karen Coates, warns, buying kits over the internet is not safe. “Most contain at least 30 higher concentration of peroxide than the legal limit and can cause irreparable damage to the teeth and gums”, she says.

What about rubbing fruit on your teeth?

Ah, yes. These claims like to pop up every now and again, but there’s actually nothing concrete to suggest that rubbing various fruits on your teeth will help whiten them – in fact, the acid contained in them can actually be damaging.

And charcoal?

Ditto the above. There is simply just not enough scientific basis at the moment to back this up.

It damages the enamel on your teeth

Wrong again – especially when conducted by a professional! It works by opening the pores of your teeth – temporarily - and allowing a cleaning agent to work inside the inner structure. Countless studies have proven that the enamel remains completely intact during a teeth whitening procedure – but again, only when carried out by a professional.

It hurts

When carried out by a professional, teeth whitening should not hurt at all, although a slight feeling of temporary sensitivity is not uncommon.

Teeth whitening will make your teeth completely white

The clue is in the name, really. The procedure will whiten your teeth progressively by removing stains and discoloration, but there is a finite shade they will reach – that of their natural colour.

Crowns and bridges cannot be whitened

Crowns and bridges often whiten but will only lift to the colour they were when colour matched by the dentist.

It lasts forever

Nothing lasts forever – you should know that by now! In reality, the effects from professional teeth whitening can last for up to two years, but it will begin to deteriorate after two to three months. It also cannot protect against future staining, so unless you’re willing to give up your morning coffee or evening glass of wine … !

You have to have it done at the dentist

This may have been true in the past, but certain clinics (such as ours!) – as long as they are licensed to do so – can carry out the procedure safely and effectively.

So, what are you waiting for?

Tattoo Removal

By z4028582430, Oct 16 2017 12:04PM

Tattoo, or not tattoo, that is the question

“We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret”, said someone we’ve actually never heard of before. But taking into account the fact that regretting a tattoo – which, let’s face it, is one of the most painful things you can do to your body - actually fulfils both of these evils may go some way in illustrating just how determined people are to go through with its removal. And according to an American study from 2006, a whopping fifth of people are estimated to be unhappy with their tattoos! But just what are the reasons for regretting something you once deemed so important so as to permanently brandish your body with it?

Bad art. Perhaps one of the most annoying reasons to get rid of the thing you wanted so badly comes down, simply, to a terribly executed tattoo. Because let’s face it, no matter how much it hurt physically, it’s going to hurt a whole lot more emotionally to have a word permanently misspelled on your arm or something which looks like something it wasn’t supposed to look at. Mis-translated phrases in other languages counts too, by the way. (A question of taste, maybe, but Cheryl Cole may also want to rethink the entire rose garden she adorned half of her body with. Just sayin’.)

Bad romance. Imagine getting the name of your sweetheart inked on your bicep, only to find the relationship didn’t go the distance after all. Totally ga ga.

Bad taste. Who would have thought your taste in music, fashion or, y’know, life in general, would change so dramatically? No, I don’t think a huge tat of Linkin Park represents who I am anymore, thank you very much. In a similar vein, imagine dedicating a piece of your body to a celebrity that later turns out to do something awful (we can’t imagine many chose to have Jimmy Savile inked on their body, but you get the drift.).

New job. Not bad – in fact, very good, but we’re not quite sure the military or the NHS would quite appreciate a new employee with body art. Especially if it’s of the rude kind.

The morning after. Not just true of the movies, sometimes people do make the rash decision to permanently ink their body after just one too many drinks or being pressured into it by friends when feeling vulnerable. Hey, we don’t judge.

Feuds. Some will agree to have it removed for the sake of a partner, whilst others will feel compelled to do so once they have children.

Fades. A lesser-known fact, perhaps, but even the highest-quality tattoo will fade eventually.

Red faced. Fifty-seven per cent of people in the American study suffered embarrassment as the general reaction to their much-desired body art was not what they imagined. Similarly, a quarter experienced stigma.

Update. That’s not to say that all tattoos are removed as a sign of rejection; you may feel that you fancy a change, so choose to remove a certain tattoo only to replace it with another one. (But be aware that you’ll have to wait a while before re-tattooing the same area).

Tattoo removal is easier, less painful and more affordable than it ever has been before. No matter your reason, we can help! Call us to find out more.