Is teeth whitening harmful to your teeth?
No matter how often you brush your teeth, some stubborn yellow tones simply will not disappear. If your teeth are stained, you may have wondered: “Is teeth whitening harmful to your teeth?”
In this week’s blog from Dental Center 4Smile, find out which teeth whitening method is the safest.
Teeth whitening methods
Pearly white, straight teeth are among the most desirable physical features.
But what about the risks? There are many options when it comes to teeth whitening. All kinds of at-home kits and in-office dental treatments may seem appealing for different reasons. Determining which ones are safe can be confusing.
How does teeth whitening work?
Teeth whitening breaks down and removes stains from the enamel on your teeth. Carbamide peroxide breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and urea to penetrate the enamel surface. Due to its acidic properties, hydrogen peroxide can remove electrons and break down atoms within molecules. In turn, this process removes stains from your teeth, and once those stains are removed, your teeth appear brighter.
Risks of using at-home methods
The biggest risk of using at-home teeth whitening methods is improper use of the products. Excessive use of peroxide also comes with its own risks. Using a high concentration whitening product can dehydrate your teeth, which may cause them to become darker over time.
When too much product is used or left on the teeth and gums for too long, it can lead to irritated or “burned” gums and sensitive teeth.
For this reason, most at-home products contain a lower concentration of hydrogen peroxide and are therefore less effective at whitening teeth.
Professional teeth whitening at the dentist
Professional teeth whitening performed by a dentist has been proven to be the safest and most effective teeth whitening method.
Professional teeth whitening is safe for healthy teeth and does not damage the enamel. The whitening gel uses hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient, which breaks down into active oxygen and then removes stains, making the teeth whiter. The tooth structure remains unchanged. For hydrogen peroxide to be effective, it is activated either chemically or with light. Both methods are equally effective. At Dental Center 4Smile, the Philips Zoom teeth whitening is used, which is chemically activated and can only be performed in a dental office.
How long does a professional teeth whitening treatment take?
At Dental Center 4Smile, a teeth whitening treatment lasts about 45 minutes. The process itself is divided into three sessions of 15 minutes each and is completely painless.
Who is not a candidate for teeth whitening?
Conditions that may make you unsuitable for teeth whitening include gum recession, existing cosmetic dental treatment (e.g. braces), teeth with cavities, damaged enamel, dry mouth, or poor oral hygiene. However, most of these conditions will be diagnosed during a dental examination.
How to keep your teeth white?
It is important to maintain proper oral hygiene and have your teeth professionally cleaned every six months. During the first ten days after treatment, it is recommended to avoid acidic foods, as well as dark-colored foods and drinks such as tea, coffee, red wine, carbonated beverages, and tomato, soy, and curry sauces. If a patient cannot avoid something like coffee, it is recommended to drink it through a straw.
As long as you follow methods approved by dentists, teeth whitening is considered safe.
