Pure White Frequently Asked Questions

Who may benefit from Tooth Whitening?  I already have a set of moldable mouthpieces. Can I purchase just the professional whitening gel? Is the whitening process permanent? How do teeth whiten? How white will my teeth go? What happens If I smoke and drink coffee or red wine whilst whitening? My mouth is watering excessively when I use the product. Why? My gums bled when I made my guard, is this normal? Will it hurt? Will whitening harm my gums? Why is there bubbling of the gel as I wear the trays? What if I swallow the professional whitening gel? Is this a substitute for regular dental treatment? Does the professional whitening gel work or tartar/calculus build up? How long does the gel last for? Can I talk? How does tooth whitening affect veneers? How does tooth whitening affect Crowns, Fillings, and Bridges? What about Gum Recession? Is it safe? Will it weaken my teeth? Can I whiten if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding ? What causes tooth discoloration? Are Pure White products effective on antibiotic staining? Are the mouth guards going to produce a close fit? Why are my teeth whitening unevenly ? My Gums are irritated, what can I do? Can I whiten my teeth if I have receding gums?

• Who may benefit from tooth whitening?

Almost everyone! Tooth whitening is ideal for people who have healthy, unrestored teeth who want a whiter, brighter smile.

• I already have a set of moldable mouthpieces. Can I purchase just the professional whitening gel?

Yes, we sell a professional whitening gel separately in syringe applicators. It is sold as a refill kit. This is the same whitening gel that is sold in our complete kit. It can be used with any dental tray in the same way as your previous whitening gel.

• Is the whitening process permanent?

For most people the treatment will last for many years. Your teeth have been stained due to age and consuming high colour foods and drinks such as red wine, cigarettes and sweets. These stains will reoccur with time should the same diet be continued and a periodical ‘touch up’ may be required.

• How do teeth whiten?

The active ingredient in Pure White uses hydrogen peroxide which is broken down when applied to the teeth, releasing oxygen. The teeth have ‘pores’ like the skin and the oxygen penetrates through the pores, surrounds the organically stained deposits and oxidizes them. This process renews the overall tooth shade close to its natural unstained colour.

• How white will my teeth go?

Generally, people’s teeth cannot lighten more than the whites of their eyes, unless porcelain veneers or crowns are placed.

• What happens If I smoke and drink coffee or red wine whilst whitening?

Your teeth are more likely to uptake stain during the whitening process. If you do smoke or drink a lot of coffee or red wine the whitening process will take longer to work. Once you finish whitening your teeth will remineralize within two days and you can consume these items again. Excess consumption of these products will cause faster re-staining over time.
The teeth will be more susceptible to staining for two days after and during the treatment. Similar to laser teeth whitening.

• My mouth is watering excessively when I use the product. Why?

This is a normal reaction that will reduce over time with active use, and will stop once the treatment course is finished.

• My gums bled when I made my guard, is this normal?

You may have a small amount of gingivitis that can be fixed by either using a mouthwash and brushing the area that bleeds with your toothpaste or by seeing your dentist.

• Will it hurt?

60% of people experience some type of sensitivity, whether in one tooth, on the edges of the teeth or near the gum line where the gums are receding. Instructions in the kit are detailed on how to solve sensitivity. If teeth are sensitive to tooth whitening gel, do not be alarmed. This is a normal reaction in 60% of the population. It means that either the dental whitening formula is working or the guard is agitating the gums. Any sensitivity will most likely diminish as use of the professional whitening gel is continued or upon treatment completion.
Avoid consuming carbonated drinks (soft drinks) and citrus foods whilst whitening, they can cause sensitivity. If pain is too intense, stop treatment and see your dentist. Sensodyne toothpaste can also be placed inside the mouth guard and worn for 5 minutes prior to whitening and again directly after whitening.

• Will whitening harm my gums?

Tooth whitening gels have no adverse side effect on gums and often improve the health of gum tissue due to the antibacterial effect of the peroxide gel.

• Why is there bubbling of the gel as I wear the trays?

This bubbling is actually part of the whitening process as the surface stains are oxidizing.

• What if I swallow the professional whitening gel?

Every time you use your dental whitening system you will inevitably swallow a small amount of whitening gel. This is normal and, except for the taste, there are no hazards for most people who swallow small amounts of gel.

• Is this a substitute for regular dental treatment?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! Your dentist is vital to you maintaining adequate oral health and should be consulted on a regular basis to ensure oral health.

• Does the professional whitening gel work or tartar/calculus build up?

No! Patients need to realize this procedure only whitens stained teeth. It does not remove tartar build up. This needs to be removed by a dentist.

• How long does the gel last for?

The Pure White NZ's professional whitening gel has a long life at room temperature (up to two years). Bleaching gel should not be stored at high temperatures, nor should it be frozen.

• Can I talk?

Yes, you can carry on normal conversation wearing our professional trays, although you may sound a little muffled. The trays are thin and clear, and will not be noticed when you wear them.

• How does tooth whitening affect veneers?

Veneers are translucent shells of porcelain that have been bonded onto the front side of a person’s teeth. While the tooth bleaching agent will not change the colour of the veneer itself it will be able to permeate the tooth from the backside, thus lightening the tooth structure which lies under the veneer. Because veneers are translucent, the net effect can be that the tooth, from the front side, appears whiter.

• How does tooth whitening affect Crowns, Fillings, and Bridges?

The professional bleaching processes will not make a colour change in the dental work you have already had done but can remove discoloration from staining. This includes restorations such as: white fillings, bonding crowns and bridges. In most cases, a person’s teeth should be whitened first and then afterwards their dental work done to match the new shade of their teeth. If your natural teeth have darkened more than a crown, professional teeth whitening can be used to lighten the crowned tooth’s neighboring natural teeth back to a shade which more closely matches the crowned tooth’s porcelain. The colour match obtained by the bleaching process is not always exact, but it can be a significant improvement.

• What about Gum Recession?

Some persons have gum recession on one or more teeth. Usually the root surface that becomes visible as gums recede has an appearance, which is somewhat darker than the rest of the tooth. This is because root surfaces are not covered by enamel but are instead composed of another naturally darker material called “dentin”. The professional teeth whitening method won’t effectively lighten dentin. This means that the colour of the root portion of the tooth (which shows where the gum recession has occurred) will not change noticeable as a result of your bleaching efforts.

• Is it safe?

The active ingredient in Pure White is Hydrogen Peroxide, which releases oxygen to whiten teeth. It has been used by dentists for over 30 years for teeth whitening and has been proven to be very safe and effective.

• What are the differences between whitening toothpaste, whitening chewing gum and Pure White?

Brushing with whitening toothpaste only cleans away daily surface stains. Chewing a whitening gum cleans food stains from individual meals. Pure White Professional Tooth Whitening System whitens stains beneath the outer surface that have occurred over time.

• Will it weaken my teeth?

Definitely not. A healthy tooth is porous and allows the gel to enter the outer layer (enamel) of your tooth to whiten it.

• Can I whiten if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding ?

There is no known hazard associated with whitening teeth while pregnant or nursing, however due to a lack of studies in this area, you are advised not to.

• What causes tooth discoloration?

There are many causes; Age, repeated exposure to tea, coffee, red wine, cigarettes and other vibrant colored food and drink. Certain antibiotic medicines stain, as can excessive ingestion of fluoride by young children (eating toothpaste or a lot of fluoride tablets can cause white spotting). Individual teeth can stain if they have had root canal treatment or have been traumatized. These types of staining cannot be fixed with Pure White and should be evaluated by a dentist.

• Are Pure White products effective on antibiotic staining?

Antibiotic staining has the best whitening results from gradual bleaching; the Pure White take home Professional teeth whitening systemes have reported fantastic results with antibiotic staining.

• Are the mouth guards going to produce a close fit?

Pure White mouth guards use patented thermo-shrink technology to ensure a snug fit to your teeth. The mouth guards are custom made by you and are easy to mould to your teeth. If you do find you have not made a close fitting guard, simply heat the mouth guard and remold to your teeth again.

• Why are my teeth whitening unevenly ?

If your teeth whiten more quickly along the edges, it is likely due to the enamel being thinner along this area. Continue to whiten your teeth ad they will eventually whiten to the same shade as the edges.

• My Gums are irritated, what can I do?

You can use  Pure White for a shorter period of time (20 minutes, 3 times per day). Make sure you wipe away the excess material from the gum line. Apply Vaseline to your gums prior to whitening. If gum discomfort persists, avoid using Pure White straight after brushing.  Pure White Strips can be kept away from the gums when applying.  The Pure White pen is to be avoided by the gums and you will be fine.

• Can I whiten my teeth if I have receding gums?

Some people have gum recession on one or more teeth. Usually the root surface that becomes visible as gums recede, has an appearance which is somewhat darker than the rest of the tooth. This is because root surfaces are not covered by enamel but are instead composed of another naturally darker material called "dentin". Pure White teeth whitening won’t effectively lighten dentin. This means that the colour of the root portion of the tooth (which shows where the gum recession has occurred) will not change as a result of your bleaching efforts.