Did you know that you could have your smile brightened about 5-10 shades in as little as 20 minutes? Not only that, but professional teeth whitening procedures are also needle-free and don’t require the use of a dental drill. Instead, the process is as simple as placing the whitening agent, applying an LED light, and letting it sit.
Sound too good to be true? Well, this is one rare instance where that is not the case. Modern technology has actually made it possible to have a whiter and brighter smile quickly and easily. And, yes, the light does indeed play a role in the accelerated whitening process. However, simply smiling at an LED light will not whiten your teeth. To understand how LED lights play a role in the whitening process, you must first understand the basics of how teeth whitening works.
What are the basics of teeth whitening?
When you visit your local dental office to have your teeth professionally whitened, your teeth will first be cleaned to ensure that the whitener can be evenly applied to the surface of your teeth. You will also be given special tools used to hold your mouth open and protect the soft tissues of your mouth during the whitening procedure. Once applied to your teeth, the whitening gel will remain in place for about 20 minutes.
Since teeth are porous, the whitening gel is absorbed by the enamel and dentin layers of the tooth. The active ingredient in whitening gels is hydrogen peroxide, which removes stains and is then safely absorbed by the body. Most over the counter whitening products use low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, while cosmetic dentists use higher concentrations to get faster, more effective results.
This is because when applied to the teeth, hydrogen peroxide acts as a catalyst for an oxidation reaction to occur. The oxidation reaction breaks down the molecular bonds of discolored molecules, causing the stains to vanish. In simpler terms, hydrogen peroxide dissolves stains from the enamel and dentin layers in order to whiten the teeth. Even though the whitening gel is only on your teeth for a limited amount of time, it will remain effective for the first 24 hours after application.
So, how do LED lights help?
At this point, you are probably wondering how an LED light can help this process along. An LED, or light-emitting diode, releases a single color of light on the visible light spectrum when exposed to electricity. In the past UV, or ultraviolet light, was used to aid in the whitening process. However, UV light has been found to cause cell mutations that can lead to cancer.
Therefore, LED lights quickly replaced UV lights for whitening procedures. LED lights require minimal power, are long-lasting, and do not require a warming up period to be effective. Although their light is more intense than other types of light, they are also much cooler due to their ability to dissipate heat. All these things make them an ideal light for teeth whitening.
LED lights are used in teeth whitening procedures for one key reason: research has shown they speed up the chemical reactions that remove the stains from teeth. As mentioned before, whitening agents are effective for 24 hours. Therefore, speeding up the chemical reactions simply means that more stains can be removed during this time period. Ultimately, the more stains that are removed, the brighter your smile will be. On average, LED teeth whitening can lighten your smile 6-8 shades during a single whitening session.
Overall, the addition of LED lights to whitening procedures has improved the effectiveness of whitening agents, allowing for brighter and whiter smiles. Nevertheless, it is the whitening agent that remains the key element of whitening treatment. Although results cannot be achieved with an LED light alone, phenomenal results are produced when used with whitening gels.
Share this Article
Back to Blog Articles Page
FAQs
LED lights whiten your teeth through their photochemical impact on the tooth surface. On application, the light energy activates the hydrogen peroxide in teeth whitening serum and speeds up the bleaching process. Irrespective of the cause of yellow teeth, it is an effective treatment for enhancing any smile.
How does teeth whitening actually work? ›
The most safest and scientifically proven whitening system, Opalescence™, uses either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide as a whitening agent. The active oxygen molecules in the whitening agent can penetrate the enamel of the teeth and react with the discolored molecules that cause tooth discoloration.
How does light therapy whiten teeth? ›
Then they will use a blue LED light, which activates the hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide whitening gel. This helps break apart the gel faster. The resulting chemical reaction lifts stains off your teeth. Whether you're at home or in your dentist's office, the process works the same way.
How does blue LED teeth whitening work? ›
Blue light itself cannot whiten the teeth. Instead, blue light is used to activate a chemical reaction. You'll apply a specialized whitening gel to the patient's teeth containing either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. The blue light activates the compounds in the gel and helps break it apart faster.
Should I brush my teeth after LED whitening? ›
As for whether you should brush your teeth after using whitening strips, there is no definitive answer. While some experts recommend brushing immediately after removing the strips to ensure all residue is removed, others advise waiting for 30 minutes to allow the enamel to rehydrate and minimize potential abrasion.
How often should I whiten my teeth with LED light? ›
It's generally safe to use an LED teeth whitener once every 24-48 hours, depending on the strength of the device and the sensitivity of your teeth. The MOON Teeth Whitening Device is designed to be gentle and is safe to use twice a day for 14 days at a time.
Does light really whiten teeth? ›
In a study published in the Journal of Conservative Dentistry, researchers found that laser, halogen, and LED light activation produced greater lightening of tooth shade and maintained the lighter shade longer than non-light-activated teeth whitening.
How does UV light teeth whitening work? ›
teeth whitening works by utilizing a combination of hydrogen peroxide gel and UV light. UV light doesn't actually whiten the teeth all by itself. Instead, it expedites the whitening process by exciting the molecules in the peroxide gel, allowing the whitening agents to penetrate the enamel more quickly.
Does baking soda whiten teeth? ›
Baking soda can be used with some water to remove the stains on the surface of the teeth. It can also be used with hydrogen peroxide to enhance its whitening effects. Baking soda can be used by individuals with regular toothpastes too. It is also used commercially in some teeth whitening products and toothpastes.
Does crest LED light work? ›
So to rectify the mistake, my partner and I tested two versions of Crest's wildly popular teeth whitening product, one with an LED light and one without. Spoiler alert: They both work extremely well.
Seven Ways to Naturally Whiten Teeth
- Eat Strawberries. One of the simplest ways to naturally whiten your teeth is just by eating strawberries. ...
- Eat Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables. ...
- Brush After You Eat or Drink. ...
- Rinse with Apple Cider Vinegar. ...
- Apply Coconut Oil. ...
- Brush Your Tongue. ...
- Use Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide.
How long does it take for LED light therapy to work? To see significant benefits, you typically need to have a series of in-office treatments. You may need a treatment each week for about a month. Then you might need maintenance treatments every month or every few months.
Can you eat after LED teeth whitening? ›
For at least the first 48 hours after whitening, patients should choose foods and drinks that are white or pale. This will help to avoid any stains developing, while also preventing any further irritation to your teeth and gums. Drinking plenty of water will help your gum tissue to recover quicker.
Can you drink water after LED teeth whitening? ›
While beverages and liquids such as milk and water are okay to drink, dark-colored beverages should be avoided after a teeth whitening procedure. Avoid beverages such as coffee, dark sodas, red wines, and tea. You should also avoid dark juices including cranberry, grape, orange, and tomato juice.
How do you prepare for LED teeth whitening? ›
How to Prepare for Teeth Whitening
- Brush and floss your teeth. It's important to clean your teeth thoroughly every day leading up to the procedure. ...
- Avoid dark-tinted foods and drinks. Things like dark berries, curry, and drinks such as coffee, tea, and red wine can stain your teeth. ...
- Wear comfortable clothing.
Firstly, whitening time is shorter for only 2-3 minutes, much less than 30-45 minutes of LED light bleaching. Secondly, there is lower teeth sensitivity, while LED light whitening has a strong acid swelling reaction. Thirdly, laser tooth whitening has a better effect and can last for longer time.
