Teeth whitening in South Africa: dental practice, salon or home kit?

If you want the natural colour of your teeth lighter, have them whitened in the chair at a dental practice. It is the option that changes the shade of the tooth itself. Whitening toothpastes and strips mostly lift surface stains, and salon whitening isn't a legal option: in South Africa, only registered oral health professionals may whiten teeth.

We whiten teeth in the chair, starting with a check of your teeth and gums. Our professional teeth whitening page sets out each step.

Your options side by side

None of these changes the colour of fillings, crowns or veneers.

Whitening at a dental practice

Any decay or gum problems are treated before whitening. Sometimes the check shows the staining is mostly on the surface: a teeth cleaning removes tartar and surface stains from tea, coffee and smoking, and for some people that's enough. Read what a scale and polish involves.

For in-chair whitening, your starting shade is recorded, your gums are covered and a peroxide gel goes on your teeth for set periods. It usually takes about an hour, and the new shade is checked before you leave. The check beforehand and the protection for your gums while the gel works are the two things a shop product can't give you.

Salons and whitening studios

The Health Professions Council of South Africa, which registers oral health professionals, says in its statement of 5 July 2018, Caution against teeth whitening procedures, that only appropriately trained, qualified and experienced oral health care professionals who are registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa may perform teeth whitening procedures. The same statement calls whitening by beauty salons, or by anyone not registered as an oral health care practitioner, illegal and in contravention of the Health Professions Act 56 of 1974.

Before you book whitening anywhere, ask who will do it and whether they are registered as an oral health professional.

Who should wait

Hold off on whitening if:

• you are pregnant or breastfeeding
• you have decay or gum problems that haven't been treated yet
• your teeth are already sensitive (have them checked first)

If a chip, a gap or one dark tooth is what bothers you, whitening won't fix it, and composite bonding or composite veneers may suit you better.

What to expect afterwards

Some people notice sensitivity to cold or mild gum irritation afterwards, usually for a short time. The result fades over time, faster if you smoke or often drink tea, coffee or red wine. The treatment page covers side effects and how long whitening lasts.

Investing in your smile

Medical schemes usually treat whitening as cosmetic and don't pay for it, though they may pay for treatment your teeth need first: read what medical aid covers for dental work. We take card and cash, and you can ask us about paying in instalments.

Questions about whitening options