Tanning beds do a great job at helping you develop a gorgeous, sun-kissed glow without having to step foot in the sun, but are they capable of being able to do more than just make our skin look better? Some people believe that tanning beds can whiten teeth as well.
So, can you really whiten your teeth in a tanning bed? No, you cannot whiten your teeth in a tanning bed alone, as the UV rays emitted by the tanning bed will not work for this purpose. However, there are whitening kits that work with UV rays, and some are meant to be used in a tanning bed.
Don’t rely on your tanning bed to whiten your teeth, and rather rely on it to build a sun-kissed glow! Keep reading to find out more about the relationship between tanning beds and teeth whitening.
Can A Tanning Bed Whiten Teeth?
Tanning beds cannot whiten your teeth. The confusion comes in with the fact that tanning beds use UV rays to tan your skin. Many teeth whitening kits now use UV radiation, along with teeth whitening gels, to lighten teeth.
For this reason, many people believe that simply smiling while tanning can give you a brighter smile, but it doesn’t work this way. Tanning beds are also known to lighten hair, but this doesn’t mean it lightens teeth too.
Teeth can only be whitened when exposed to UV rays, when a teeth whitening agent is used, such as a hydrogen peroxide whitening gel. The UV rays will accelerate the oxidation of the whitening gel to increase the whitening of the teeth.
Why Do My Teeth Seem Lighter After Tanning?
Even though a tanning bed cannot whiten your teeth on its own, many people claim that their teeth appear lighter after spending time tanning.
They aren’t actually imagining this, and there is a very good reason for their teeth appearing lighter, even though they haven’t been lightened at all.
Your teeth will appear lighter because of the contrast against your darker skin. If your skin becomes a few shades darker, your teeth will appear lighter. This is just an illusion, but it can be quite convincing.
Once your skin begins to lighten again and your tan fades, then your teeth will not appear as bright anymore.
Even though your teeth have not been lightened by the tanning bed, you can still enjoy their brighter shine now that your skin is a little more tanned as well!
Can You Wear Whitening Strips In A Tanning Bed?
Instead of carrying out a teeth whitening regime at home, and then going and spending time in a tanning bed, you would want a way to get both done at once, but is this possible?
There have been recent advancements in the teeth whitening market, which have seen the creation of teeth whitening kits that are suited to be used in a tanning bed. This means that you can tan and lighten your teeth at the same time!
These kits usually include a hydrogen peroxide-based whitening gel that you apply to your teeth, and then use in the tanning bed. You could also use a mouthpiece that activates the UV lights to better bleach your teeth.
Once the teeth whitening gel has been exposed to the UV rays and a higher temperature, it will begin to lighten your teeth. This means you will be leaving the tanning salon with a new tan and brighter teeth!
Whitening Lights To Whiten Teeth
Teeth whitening lights have been specifically designed to activate teeth whitening gels, helping them lighten teeth for a brighter, whiter smile.
If done correctly, you can achieve up to 5-10 levels of brightening in one sitting, which is around 20 minutes long. This level of brightening is usually only seen when teeth whitening is done by a professional, but you can use at-home teeth whitening kits for a lower level of whitening.
Most teeth whitening kits that you use at home contain UV lights, which work along with the teeth whitening gel to give you a brighter smile.
Here are some of the best teeth whitening lights to use:
1. iSmile Teeth Whitening Kit
The iSmile Teeth Whitening Kit is one of the best ways to lighten your teeth from the comfort of home.
The kit includes the teeth whitening light tray and the lightening gel. The light accelerates the products used to break down stains left on teeth and to whiten the teeth faster.
You can achieve up to 8 shades of lightening if you use the LED set often, which is almost what you would achieve when visiting the dentist.
The whitening gel is made with 35% carbamide peroxide, which is the same chemical used by dentists, and which is considered enamel-safe, so it will not cause excessive sensitivity.
The light tray is made with professional-grade silicone, which is safe and very comfortable. It fits comfortably in your mouth, and has easy ventilation, to be a pleasure to use while you brighten your teeth!
2. Twilight Teeth Whitening Kit
Twilight Teeth offer professional teeth whitening without having to visit the dentist. The specially designed kit can be used at home or in a tanning bed, so you can easily fit a teeth whitening session into your routine.
The application for Twilight Teeth is very simple, and the no-rinse formula means you don’t have to worry about cleaning up after leaving the product in for the right amount of time.
With this kit, you do not have to use a messy mouth guard. Instead, there is the product, a mouthpiece and a light included. You can use this light if you are not going to be spending time in a tanning bed.
The tube of product included with the kit gives you up to 12 different applications, so you can achieve a brighter smile with just one kit alone!
3. VieBeauti Teeth Whitening Kit
This whitening system from VieBeauti can immediately help to remove stains and discoloration from the teeth, to give you visible results in just one use.
The kit includes the accelerator light that helps to speed up the lightening process. The LED light contains 5 powerful bulbs that give the best results.
There is also a desensitizing gel included, which helps reduce sensitivity while whitening, and helps to strengthen enamel.
Not only will this kit help to give you a brighter smile, but it also cares for your enamel too.
Does Teeth Whitening Damage Teeth?
Teeth whitening is considered to be a fairly safe treatment, as long as it is not overdone. There are some side-effects that people may experience with teeth lightening, but these should not be long-lasting.
The one side-effect experienced often is tooth sensitivity. This is often experienced in the first or second teeth whitening process, but it should go away after some time. If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, then you should speak to your dentist about a toothpaste you could use to counteract this.
Another side-effect that can appear with teeth whitening is irritation of the gums. The chemicals included in the whitening gel can be too strong for your gums, and along with being activated with the lights, this could cause irritation and pain in the gums.
Can You Whiten Teeth In A Tanning Bed?
You cannot whiten your teeth in a tanning bed alone, as the UV lights will not have much effect on the color of your teeth.
If you want to develop a tan and whiten your teeth at the same time, then you should use a teeth whitening kit designed to be used in a tanning bed. These come with a special gel that is applied to the teeth and then activated by the UV lights, to give you a brighter smile.
You might think that your teeth look lighter after time in a tanning bed, but this is just the contrast with your newly tanned skin, your teeth haven’t actually been lightened!
Related Questions
What is the best teeth whitening method to use?
The best teeth whitening method to use is to visit a dentist for professional teeth whitening. They will be able to evaluate your teeth best and give you the most suitable treatment. It is also safest to use professional products, and you will achieve a brighter smile than by doing it yourself at home.
Is it safe to use LED whitening?
LED teeth whitening kits that are designed to be used at home can be safe to use, but you have to avoid using them too often. Using these kits too often can cause teeth sensitivity and can damage your enamel.
