Teeth Whitening Side Effects

Teeth whitening has become more than just a matter of hygiene and physical appearance in the past years. Since teeth discoloration is caused by the build-up of dirt and stain, bacteria can also thrive in the mouth and may lead to gingivitis or inflammation of the gums, or in worse case scenarios, periodontitis, which is a severe case of gingivitis which involve tissue loss and even tooth extraction.

Nowadays, most people are encouraged to have whiter teeth and brighter smiles because of the easy access to home teeth bleaching products. Before buying a home kit or before spending hundreds of dollars on a dental whitening treatment, it would be more advisable to know about teeth whitening side effects. Are there teeth whitening side effects that should be avoided?

Before teeth whitening side effects can be fully understood, it would be basic to first know about how teeth bleaching works. Teeth bleaching or whitening at home or in a dental clinic works pretty much the same. The processes and the basic ingredients involved are almost similar. With home bleaching kits, products such as mouth guards, bleaching trays, whitening strips, bleaching gels or pens are used. Despite the difference in form and application, all these teeth whitening products use similar bleaching agents. The most common bleaching agent is hydrogen peroxide. In some products, however, hydrogen peroxide or chlorine dioxide is used. These bleaching agents are the primary components for bleaching products either for home kits or dental clinic treatments.

Unpleasant teeth whitening side effects can exist if bleaching is done too often or if the product used is not of good quality. While a person might have intentions for better teeth color and appearance, this good intent can lead to side effects that can worsen teeth condition and appearance. Before buying a teeth whitening product, it would be wise to first scrutinize the product and its record. Relying on popular and trusted brands can work but this is not always a guarantee. Reading testimonials and user or expert reviews can also help determine whether a specific product is effective. Reading a certain home kit’s user manual and following it to the T can also help avoid side effects.

Some of the common teeth whitening side effects include thinning of the teeth’s enamel. When bleaching the teeth, the teeth’s enamel which is porous, is the one that absorbs the bleaching agent. Too frequent use of bleaching products can thin down the enamel. Also, it is also important to know that it would be most advisable to avoid foods, drinks or products that stain and discolor the teeth. Examples of these are coffee, tea or nicotine from cigarettes. Consumption of these can lead to a slower teeth whitening process.