One of the biggest concerns people have about teeth whitening is whether it is safe, and whether it can cause damage their teeth? They are good questions that do need answering before going ahead with any teeth whitening procedure, be it at home, or done professionally by a cosmetic dentist.
Why do Teeth Get Discolored?
While the enamel of your teeth appears smooth, it actually isn’t. Viewed under a microscope, the surface of your teeth has a honeycombed appearance. Teeth are covered in tiny tube-like structures, which over time absorb the stains in the food and drink we consume. This results in discoloring of our teeth that no amount of brushing can remove. Teeth whitening has become increasingly popular over recent years to reverse this natural process.
How does Teeth Whitening Work?
The original teeth whiteners were abrasive. These did damage the enamel of teeth, just as any type of cleaner that is an abrasive removes the top layer of a surface in order to clean it. The teeth whitening agents used today are chemicals. They react with the stains in our teeth, and do not erode the enamel. So, using today’s teeth whitening systems, as long as they are used correctly, is not going to damage the enamel of our teeth.
Tooth Sensitivity
One of the things that has caused people to question the safety of getting your teeth whitened, is the fact that teeth whitening can temporarily increase teeth sensitivity. This happens because the bleaching chemicals used to whiten teeth open up the tiny tube structures in the tooth enamel in order to react with the stains. For the time that these tubes are open, which is during and for up to a couple of weeks after whitening, your teeth will be more sensitive. This is temporary, and the degree of sensitivity varies from person to person.
So it’s safe to go ahead with whitening your teeth, you’ll just need to choose which method is right for you, and accept the fact that for some people, a temporary increase in tooth sensitivity is a side effect of achieving white teeth.
There have been reports of gum sensitivity, even changes to gum color after teeth whitening. Is it possible that whitening your teeth is actually at the expense of damage to your gums? Since chemicals are used to bleach the stains on teeth during this process, it is understandable to come to the conclusion that gum damage might occur. So, is whitening your teeth harming your gums….
Is Whitening Your Teeth Harming Your Gums?
There are various ways to have your teeth whitened, either using at home treatments or by a dentist. It is important to make sure you understand the procedure correctly and get all your questions answered before going ahead. If you are doing the treatment yourself at home, make sure you follow the instructions to avoid unnecessary problems, including damage to your gums.
If you get your teeth whitened by a dentist, the chemicals used for the procedure will be stronger than those you can purchase for at home treatments. The strength of the professionally used stain remover does increase the possibility of sensitivity of both teeth and gums during the procedure. Make sure you let your dentist know if you have sensitive teeth so that you get the best treatment for you.
Teeth Sensitivity
When whitening your teeth at home, only apply the product as directed. If your teeth or gums become oversensitive, you will need to apply the treatment less frequently. Teeth whitening today is a safe procedure. There are no abrasives used in the products, only chemicals which react with the actual stains on the teeth.
Some people have gums which are more sensitive to teeth whitening agents, but usually this only occurs if the product is being used too often. Spacing the frequency of the whitening applications should solve this problem.
When done correctly, teeth whitening does not cause damage to gums. Do your research, decide which teeth whitening procedure is best for you, and follow the directions carefully. You will have a beautifully white smile and healthy gums as well.
