Nothing beats that feeling of confidence you get knowing that you can smile and show off your sparkling white teeth. However, it is common knowledge that certain factors like diet and age darken one’s teeth and that is why teeth whitening becomes necessary.
Many people want to whiten their teeth but a significant discouragement for many is that whitening one’s teeth might have adverse effects. Let’s see how true this is.
What Are Teeth Whitening Products Made Of?
The two primary ingredients of any teeth whitening product are hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, in different concentrations for different whitening products.
Usually, what these bleaching agents do is go through the enamel and break down the elements that make the teeth yellow, discolored, or stained. Most people who have used teeth whitening products have been satisfied with the result because they experience little or no side effects. Nevertheless, the procedure is not without its side effects.
What Are The Side Effects Of Teeth Whitening?
- Tooth Sensitivity:Tooth sensitivity is one of the things that you may notice for a while after the tooth whitening process. That happens because, during the whitening process, the dentin (the harder part of the teeth surrounded by the enamel) becomes exposed. Your teeth may be already sensitive before even whitening them. In that case, it is advisable to consult your doctor first beforehand to find out the whitening options that are advisable and suitable. Your dentist should provide you with a list of different brands that have products that can help you reduce the sensitivity you feel during your teeth whitening process.
- Soft Tissue Irritation:Some people like to call this chemical burn. It happens when the whitening solution comes in contact with the gum during whitening. What you would notice during soft tissue irritation is that the gum becomes white after coming in contact with the whitening agent. After a while, the color of the tissue goes back to normal. The problem is that people usually panic after seeing what happens when their gums get exposed to high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. If the gum tissue is also exposed to teeth whitening solutions for an extended period, inflammation and redness may occur in the areas affected. Furthermore, in extreme cases of soft tissue irritation caused by the gum tissue getting in contact with the whitening solution, you might notice irritation.
- Undesirable Results:The initial shade of the teeth will determine the kind of result you are going to get after teeth whitening. That means some people might not get the result they initially hoped for. If there is an internal tooth discoloration or heavy staining on the tooth, you might not notice any changes after attempting to whiten your teeth. Ironically, if you whiten your teeth too often, it begins to look grey or translucent, instead of having the sparkling white color that you expect them to have. Lastly, if you have veneers, crowns, caps, or fillings, the whitening solution won’t work on them at all.
Final Thoughts
Before you decide to whiten your teeth, it is advisable to consult a dentist first. The dentist will let you know if teeth whitening is an ideal option for you. A dentist might also give you other options to explore if tooth discoloration is why you want to whiten your teeth.
On a final note, it is worthy to note that most of these side effects of getting teeth whitening near you exist only for a short period, regardless of how you choose to whiten your teeth – over the counter, with a dentist’s prescription, or in a dentist’s office. Avoid whitening toothpaste that is too abrasive so that you won’t damage your enamel in the process.
Reference: Healthline
