Teeth whitening is a simple procedure that can produce fabulous results for little effort and minimal cost. It is a non-invasive and effective way to brighten stained or discoloured teeth, taking years off your age and increasing confidence at the same time. Even after professional cleaning, teeth long-used to coffee, red wine, cigarettes or other staining agents will not return to their original youthful colour.

Tooth whitening options include:

Chair-side, light-activated teeth whitening has the advantage of being very effective and also the least time consuming. The latest available systems use a plasma arc or xenon-halogen light source to activate the whitening agent which is applied to the teeth. The lips, gums and the inside of the mouth are isolated and protected before the whitening gel is applied. Whitening teeth using the light-activated method takes just two hours or less and has been clinically proven to lighten teeth an average of 8 shades whiter in just one visit! Tooth whitening treatment is completely safe and the benefits can be seen for years. We use Britesmile. (Light-activated whitening should be not confused with laser teeth whitening treatments.)

Smilefocus was recently asked to participate in a comparative trial of whitening systems, including Britesmile and a popular, chair-side alternative, as well as various take home options including whitening toothpastes. We provided a Britesmile treatment, and the happy customer had this to say: "Now, my teeth are three shades lighter and look very natural. This treatment is great for those who want immediate results." The Britesmile was visibly whiter than the chair-side alternative. Extraordinary results can be achieved.

Before and after photos

Dentist supervised at-home teeth whitening. You add a whitening gel to a customised mouthguard which is then worn regularly for a few hours or overnight. You see an improvement in just a few days.

While whitening toothpastes are popular, they do not alter the intrinsic color of your teeth, merely enhance the effectiveness of stain removal , and they may be abrasive so be careful not to use them frequently.