Tooth whitening is not painful however some patients may experience temporary sensitivity during or the next day after treatment. For those who do experience sensitivity symptoms can be relieved by using an over-the-counter toothpaste for sensitive teeth. 

This depends on your lifestyle and diet. Teeth are more likely to stain if you drink coffee, red wine or smoke. We recommend top up treatments every 3-6 months. Additional syringes of gel can be purchased from reception. 

In order to whiten your teeth, you must see a dentist first for an examination. This is to ensure you are free from tooth decay and gum disease prior to whitening. 

Is it not suitable for pregnant women, if you are breastfeeding or those under 18 years of age. 

We are proud to provide our patients with Boutique Tooth whitening kits. Boutique was built by a dentist with over 20 years’ experience who wanted to make a beautiful smile accessible to everyone. 

Boutique Whitening by Day is a 6% hydrogen peroxide gel. Hydrogen peroxide will break down immediately once you place the whitening trays in your mouth. The majority of the peroxide will be spent within the first 20 minutes of wear; however, we recommend wearing the trays for 60 minutes.

Boutique by Night is a carbamide peroxide gel and comes in both 10% and 16% strength. They are designed for 4 hours wear however we recommend wearing the trays overnight so you can whiten as you sleep. 

Both 10% and 16% gels will give you great results but the 16% will get you there a little faster.  If you suffer from sensitivity, the 10% is a better option for you. 

Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidising agent. The peroxide breaks down to form oxygen free compounds. These then break up larger pigment molecules into smaller, less visible molecules that can be absorbed by the body resulting in whitening. 

Carbamide peroxide is hydrogen peroxide combined with urea. Urea helps stabilise the formula, giving carbamide peroxide a more predictable, and longer shelf life, than hydrogen peroxide alone.

The main difference between the two is that carbamide peroxide is a more stable molecule and breaks down much more slowly than hydrogen peroxide. Carbamides release about 50% of their available peroxide in the first 2 to 4 hours, then the remainder over the next 2 to 6 hours.

Hydrogen peroxide breaks down almost immediately. It is thought that hydrogen peroxide produces more sensitivity than carbamide peroxide of a comparable concentration.

Each syringe should last around 5 or 6 days when whitening the upper and lower teeth. If you use too much gel, it may leak, causing sensitivity and can irritate the gums. If you use too little, the teeth may not whiten as well.

There are many over the counter methods of tooth whitening but these will have little effect on the shade of your teeth, can dehydrate the teeth and also come with their own risks. 

• When you buy a home whitening kit online many of them come with standard fit trays or will ask you to create your own moulds. When a mould isn’t perfectly fitted to your mouth, the whitening gel may not sit directly on the tooth which results in non-optimal whitening. Poor fitting trays can also result in the gel leaking into the mouth, which although is rarely harmful is not a particularly nice.

• Patients need to be supplied with the correct strength gel for their teeth. If the gel is too weak it will not be as effective in whitening the teeth. If it is too strong it can weaken the teeth’s enamel causing pain, sensitivity and occasionally infection. 

• Tooth whitening should only be done on healthy teeth. Without a proper dental assessment, you can’t be sure your teeth are suitable for whitening.