Teeth Whitening

 

Teeth Whitening Tips and Precautions


Here are a few teeth whitening tips to keep in mind:

  • Dentist can provide expertise. Even when using do-it-yourself kits, you may still want to visit your dentist to determine why your teeth are discolored and which treatments will work and won’t. An appointment and evaluation could save you time and frustration in the future, as well as alert you to additional safety precautions.
  • Tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. About half the people who try whitening products experience some degree of tooth sensitivity or gum irritation. If you experience discomfort, immediately try using lower concentration of peroxide (e.g. 6% instead of 10% or 20%). Usually side effects fade in a few days, but prolonging your exposure to too much peroxide could also prolong the side effects. If irritation persists, see a dentist.

    Because peroxide can seep into the enamel of
    the tooth, it can touch the nerve and
    make your teeth sensitive to air. If sensitivity persists
    for more than a couple days after treatment, call a dentist.
  • Cancer? For a time, people wondered if peroxide, which contains free radicals, might cause cancer in the soft tissues of the mouth. However, the total amount of peroxide that a person is exposed to per day when bleaching their teeth is less than 0.1% of the daily production of peroxide created by the liver. Saliva neutralizes this amount of peroxide about 10% faster than it can build up.
  • Do NOT use if pregnant or nursing. Even the smallest bit of swallowing chemicals in bleaching agents could be dangerous to a fetus.
  • If you’ve had previous dental work: Bleaching generally doesn’t work well on bonding or tooth-colored fillings and crowns. Best bet is to get them replaced.
  • If you have white spots on teeth, decay, or infected gums: whitening bleach is not effective.
  • Don’t use a mouthwash with alcohol (e.g. Scope or Listerine) after bleaching because it can diminish the whitening effects. However, an oxygenating oral rinse (e.g. Orajel or Therabreath) may benefit the gel treatment. Be sure to read the instructions for further advice.
  • Limitations. Remember that tooth whiteners will not whiten artificial dental work such as caps, crowns, bondings, bridges or fillings. To reach these particular teeth, you will most likely have to replace the dental work to match your new white teeth. Gray teeth are also more difficult to whiten than yellow teeth.
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