Teeth whitening

Most healthy smiles respond well, particularly where the discolouration comes from everyday things: coffee, tea, red wine, smoking, or simply the gradual yellowing that comes with age. The best way to know what result to expect is a quick check first, because a couple of things are worth understanding up front.

Whitening only lifts natural teeth, so any crowns, veneers or fillings, especially on front teeth, keep their existing shade, and we'll plan around them. And deeper discolouration from certain medications or an old knock can behave differently to everyday staining. None of that necessarily rules whitening out; it just means we'll look first and tell you honestly what's realistic rather than promising a number.

The advantage of having it done through a dentist isn't just a brighter result. It's a safer, more comfortable one. We protect your gums, use professional-strength gel that lifts staining evenly rather than patchily, and manage sensitivity as we go. A custom take-home tray, moulded to your teeth, means the gel stays where it should and off your gums, which is exactly why it works better than a generic strip. And because we've checked your teeth first, you're whitening a healthy mouth, not sealing in a problem.

Whitening isn't permanent. How long it holds depends a lot on your habits, but many people enjoy the result for several months to a year, and a quick top-up refreshes it. There's little to no downtime: just go easy on staining foods and drinks (coffee, red wine, tea, dark sauces) for around 48 hours while the result settles, and manage any short-lived sensitivity with a sensitivity toothpaste and lukewarm drinks. Keeping up your brushing, flossing and regular cleans stretches the result out.