Teeth Whitening - Precautions Worth Noting
69Every man, woman and child wants beautiful, white teeth and a flashing killer smile! However the sad truth is that more than half the world population have horrible teeth either through poor nutrition or dentition; lack of proper dental hygiene or poor lifestyle habits that include smoking and too much caffeine. When the teeth become yellow in color or discolored and stained we feel embarrassed to open our mouths in public. With all the advancements in technology there are several methods of teeth whitening, using chemicals and laser treatment.
When trying any modern process that requires the use of chemicals you need to practice caution and this article focuses on some tips to keep in mind in relation to the dangers associated with teeth whitening.
Visit your dentist: It is always advisable to see medical help prior to undergoing any procedure or process. There are several kits to whiten teeth yourself, which can be used at home. Some work and some don’t but it’s not as simple as that – there are dangers associated with using unknown chemicals on your teeth. If the proportion of the bleaching agent or peroxide is very high in the gel or paste or whitening strip you can permanently damage your enamel and possibly the dentin layer too. Dentists can provide valuable advice on what treatments work and are safe to use. Visiting your dentist can save you time, money and a whole lot of frustration by avoiding the products that don’t work.
Have you ever thought about trying laser teeth whitening, eh?
• Gum irritation: most people who try the teeth whitening products have problems with tooth sensitivity or gum irritation. The side effects should disappear in a day or so; in the meanwhile try lowering the percentage of peroxide used and avoid hot and cold food and drink while the sensitivity lasts. Prolonged symptoms only indicate that the problem is a lot more severe and you should visit your dentist. The danger here is the peroxide can seep through the enamel and reach the nerve, making it sensitive
• Pregnant women and nursing mothers are cautioned against using any form of teeth whitening agent; the ingestion of the slightest amount of chemical in the bleaching agent can be fatal to the fetus or cause the nursing infant serious problems.
• Cancer: there were concerns about whether the free radicals in the peroxide may cause cancer of the mouth; the total amount of peroxide that you are actually exposed to through teeth bleaching is approximately 0.1% or less that the daily amount produced by the liver and the saliva neutralizes the peroxide faster than it can build up.
• Dental work: crowns, caps, bonding, bridges and tooth colored fillings do not respond to bleaching at all and you may have to get them replaced to match your newly whitened teeth.
• Any tooth decay and white spots will not be whitened by bleaching.
• When you bleach your teeth you should not use mouthwash that contains alcohol because the bleaching effect is diminished. It is generally accepted that oxygenating oral rinses can benefit the gel whitening treatment.
• Gray teeth are very difficult to whiten and seldom respond to teeth whitening treatment; while yellow teeth are easier to whiten.
