The Risks In Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is as common as it is popular today and relatively safe and painless for most people

. But as with anything it does pose some risks and there are a few things to bear in mind before you decide to give teeth whitening a try.

One of the most regularly seen side effects of whitening your teeth is a rise in sensitivity. Even if you do not usually suffer from sensitive teeth sometimes in the beginning of the bleaching process, irritation of the soft tissues can occur. This can be caused by ill fitting mouth trays rather than the gel and is often short lived. It is advised to not use the mouth tray for an extended period of time. If you do experience any sensitivity you should discontinue use of the whitening process for a few days before resuming.

Most people find it pretty painless but then find that they get twinges when they then eat hot or cold foods, this should be short term and should quieten down. To minimise this happening you should avoid very hot or very cold foods for 48 hours. Should you find that your gums do feel a bit irritable, don't worry as it should subside fairly quickly. You are far more likely to experience discomfort or problems if you suffer from cracked teeth or gum problems.

If you do suffer from sensitive teeth, using a special toothpaste containing potassium nitrate will help to alleviate the discomfort felt by the nerve endings and may make your teeth less sensitive and able to be whitened without discomfort. Avoid high strength gels or anything above the recommended 16% by the FDA. It is at your own risk using anything higher at home. Especially since heavily stained teeth may need longer and more frequent applications it is best to err on the side of caution and opt for a lower strength gel.

Teeth whitening can also cause what is known by dentists as 'Technicolor' teeth. This is if the person has dental restorations, veneers, crowns, or caps, these are not able to be lightened so if the person undergoes a whitening treatment with these it will result in having multicoloured teeth as the tooth's natural shade will stay the same while the natural teeth are lightened. If you have dental work and want to try lightening it is best to seek advice from a dentist to look at other methods of brightening up your smile.

Taking the above risks into account, as long as you have a consultation with your dentist to check that your teeth are healthy and there are no underlying problems, teeth whitening is generally safe for everyone and not at all problematic. When making your decision, reasearch the products and companies, make sure you choose an FDA approved teeth whitening kit, this will ensure that you should be happy with the results.

by: Paul Beatty

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