Teeth Whitening – Safe And Accessible Smile Enhancement
A cosmetic dental treatment popular in many age groups.
Generally speaking, most people associate the popular teeth whitening procedure with people in their late teens and early twenties. This is possibly due to the many reality TV contestants who almost always have perfectly white teeth; most likely through having this procedure. While it is very popular with this age group, that doesn’t mean that other ages can’t benefit from it as well though. In today’s Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic blog, we will take a look at why people might want this treatment at various stages of their life.
Teens
When we are young many of us can maintain white teeth with diligent brushing and home care. However this isn’t the case for everyone unfortunately. We do see late teens looking for the procedure but is important to note that teeth whitening is illegal for anyone under 18 in the UK. No reputable dentist will carry this procedure out on someone younger than this unless in a specific set of circumstances.
18 to 30
This is perhaps the peak age when we tend to socialise, form a career and start relationships and, naturally, we want to look our very best during this time. Add to this the influence of TV celebrities and it isn’t hard to see why it is this group which is often the main recipient of the teeth whitening treatment that we carry out at Our Canterbury dental clinic. Alternatively, some may be tempted to opt for the more permanent dental veneers solution. If you are considering this, we strongly recommend that you do not opt for one of the cheap offers abroad, for safety reasons, and contact us to have a proper consultation before taking the next step, whether that be teeth whitening or porcelain veneers.
30 to middle age
There is some debate where ‘middle age’ begins and ends so here we are loosely discussing the age where people still socialise, at least on a moderately regular basis. As with the former age group, there is every reason why people in this age group would like to have an attractive smile. By this age, more time has passed for general wear and tear of the teeth and that includes surface staining of the enamel. This could be caused by smoking or just general consumption of teeth staining products over time.
Another factor that comes into play around this period is that as we become older, the dentin layer of the tooth which lies below the enamel starts to become darker in colour. This then shows through the translucent enamel and makes the teeth look discoloured, no matter how unstained the enamel itself is. At this stage, no amount of brushing your teeth will change things and the best solution is to have your teeth professionally whitened at our Canterbury dentists. If you are concerned that your teeth will end up brilliantly white like some TV celebrities, there is no need to be worried. The level of whiteness can be adjusted to suit your requirements and we will discuss this with you during your consultation with us.
Late middle age to older life
Some might argue that older people socialise less so having teeth whitened at this age is pointless. We disagree, as would many people in this age group. Although they may not go out partying like they used to do, restaurants, theatres and social gatherings in general are still popular activities for this age group. It is also worth remembering that age isn’t necessarily a barrier and some people ‘party on’ until they can no longer physically do so.
Teeth sometimes start to take on a yellowish appearance at this age and this can be improved by having the teeth whitened. Even for those who only socialise occasionally, it can help you to feel better about yourself if your teeth are a pleasant colour rather than a dull and yellowish colour.
As you can see, we firmly believe that teeth whitening can be a beneficial treatment for people of all ages who are over 18. Whether you are young or old, we are sure that you will feel more confident and happy to smile with a white set of teeth than with discoloured or stained.
If you have been thinking that you would like a whiter smile, however old you are, why not arrange to have an initial consultation with us where you can ask questions and discuss the most appropriate way forward?If you would like to book a consultation with us, please call Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic today on 01227 463529. We look forward to helping you have a brand new smile!