How Does An LED Light Make Your Teeth Whiter [Ultimate Guide] (2024)

Yellowing teeth are an unfortunate fact of aging, sped up by a number of different lifestyle factors such as smoking and drinking. Many people are now turning to teeth whitening methods to restore their pearly whites. Historically, people headed to their dentist for teeth whitening, and although they can give you great results, it can also be very expensive.

LED teeth whitening kits are becoming increasingly popular, with many celebrities joining campaigns for at-home teeth whitening. But how does it work? And is it safe? We are going to answer all of your questions about LED teeth whitening so that you can decide if it is right for you.

Principles Of Teeth Whitening

In general, the teeth whitening process works by treating the teeth with an agent which may or may not be bleach-based. Then, to speed up the reaction, a blue light source is shone on the treated teeth. In the past, Ultra Violet (UV) light has widely been used as the light source. However, there are now concerns over the risks of using UV light. UV light is a form of ionizing radiation which can cause the mutation of cells. This is of particular concern in the mouth because the oral tissues are very sensitive, as shown in this study.

LED can be used in place of the UV light as a safer alternative to whiten your teeth. Blue LED light can also be used to speed up the whitening reaction but without the risks of UV light.

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. It is a device which releases visible light when supplied with an electrical current. Often, the light is a single color which can be anywhere between red and blue-violet on the visible light scale. LED lights can be very intense and often brighter than their halogen or incandescent lamp counterparts. They are also a lot cooler as they have very efficient heat-dissipating designs.

LED lights do not need much power but are highly efficient and last a long time, particularly in comparison to other light sources. They do not have a warm-up time, so they switch on at their highest intensity straight away. They are a form of visible light, so they are not a type of ionizing radiation, which means they cannot cause cell mutations. It is a safer alternative to UV light for use in teeth whitening procedures.

LED whitening has been developed to be safe for home use. The use of an LED light source as opposed to older, UV light sources, is much safer. However, bear in mind that while the light is safe, teeth whitening often involves putting bleach into your mouth, so it is important to follow the instructions which are specific to each different kit.

Teeth whitening usually involves applying the bleaching agent either directly to your teeth or to a tray – like a sports mouthguard – which you hold in place for the duration of the treatment. There are different types of tray – some give a universal fit, while others you warm up and shape specifically for your teeth. The LED light will usually fix to the tray.

There arethree main warning signswhen it comes to repeated tooth whitening. If any of them apply, then it is too soon for you to whiten your teeth again:

• Tooth sensitivity
• Poor gum condition, such as swelling or bleeding
• Tooth transparency/appearing blue.

Pre-packaged teeth whitening kits have different concentrations of the active ingredients compared to professional teeth whitening that you can get at the dentist. The concentrations of hydrogen or carbamide peroxide are usually lower than what dentists use because they have been specially formulated to be safe for use by people who are untrained and unqualified. They therefore usually require more treatments.

Some at-home kits require as many as 30 treatments, but other than these, as a general rule, it is recommended you do not use at-home kits for more than two weeks consecutively. Also, once you have completed your treatment plan you should not use teeth whitening again for at least 6 months. Similarly, make sure you do not exceed the application times given in the instructions.

To give you a guide, we have compiled a selection of tooth whitening methods so you can see how often to use them safely. For full guidelines however, please refer to the manufacturers directly for the most up to date and specific instructions.

How Often Should You Bleach Your Teeth With Opalescence?

Opalescence is a make of at-home teeth whitening products which are dispensed by licensed dental professionals. They sell several different strengths of teeth whitening products, ranging from 10% to 45%. Depending on which one you go for, you could be using it for 15 minutes per session for a few days, or leaving it on overnight.

How Often Should You Whiten Your Teeth With Crest 3D Whitestrips?

The Crest 3D Whitestrips can be used back to back on consecutive days for up to 20 days, but only wear each strip for the time limit directed in the instructions. A slightly different variant, the Crest 3D Monthly Whitening Boost Whitestrips are designed to be used for 1 hour, once a month.

How Often Should I Whiten My Teeth With Activated Charcoal?

Many journal articles including this study have concluded that charcoal is an unproven method of teeth whitening. It is also naturally abrasive like baking soda, and some dentists have reported findings that it actually gets trapped into the pores of the teeth, which would have a darkening effect on the teeth – the opposite to what you are looking for! It is better to stick to proven, and medically tested methods of teeth whitening, like at-home kits.

How Often Should I Whiten My Teeth With Baking Soda And Lemon?

It is not advisable to use this method to whiten teeth at all. Baking soda is naturally abrasive and lemon juice is highly acidic and can demineralise your tooth structure. It also does not involve usingfluoride,which is a substance that helps to strengthen teeth and prevents cavities from forming, and which is present in toothpastes and often even in tap water.

Using this baking soda method can severely damage the enamel on your teeth which can cause yellowing, sensitivity and decay as time goes on. It can also weaken dental glue, so should not be used if you have braces. Similarly, baking soda should not be used with peroxide for the same reasons.

Non-prescription teeth whitening products can be the cheapest route to a Hollywood smile and can be very effective. Dental professionals agree that it can be an effective way to whiten teeth.

Duration:1 hour or less, depending on the formula

Effectiveness:a few months to years

Overall Cost:$20-$100

If you are intersted in at-home teeth whitening, you may be interested to see what the OGLF Team thought of some of the most popular products on the market.

The results last longer but will cost you much more. The full total will depend on the degree of tooth discoloration, the length and number of sessions, and the utilization of more advanced whitening treatments like LED teeth whitening procedure.

Duration:1 hour or less

Effectiveness:1-3 years

Overall Cost:$500-1000

Keep in mind that the best teeth whitening treatment results can also involve other teeth cleaning or post-whitening dental procedures that the dentist will recommend – all of which can contribute to the final cost. Many dental practices offer repayment plans and third-party financing options, but these will rarely be covered by your health insurance.

No matter which method you are using for whitening your teeth, you want to get the most for you money. Therefore, you want the whitening result to last as long as possible. These are our tips for helping to keep your teeth white:

• Maintain good oral hygiene – cleaning your teeth will remove debris from food that can cause stains and will reduce the rate of tartar and plaque build-up. Brush your teeth for 2 minutes at least twice a day with a fluoride-based tooth paste, floss daily and use a mouthwash regularly. You can read our review of the best water flossers if you haven’t already tried one!
• Follow the instructions – over bleaching can cause worse yellowing in the long run, so don’t exceed the recommended time or number of treatments. Also, make sure that your teeth are freshly cleaned before whitening them.
• Avoid staining foods – give your teeth a few hours break after your teeth whitening treatments and avoid consuming foods or drinks other than water for a couple of hours. Ideally, cut staining foods and drinks such as coffee, red wine, tomato sauce and curries from your diet completely.
• Use a straw – for acidic beverages such as orange juice and sodas (even sugar free sodas are acidic). This is also a solution for stain-causing drinks because it prevents the drinks from coming into contact with the surface of your teeth.
• Have regular checkups – your dentist or hygienist will give you personal advice on how your teeth are holding up. They will check for cavities and decay and can give you a scale and polish to remove tartar which can lengthen the life of your whitening procedure.