Is It True That Teeth Whitening Causes Damage to My Teeth?
If you desire a brighter smile, teeth whitening is the best option for you. However, many patients ask, can you whiten your teeth without damage? It is important to know whether the bleaching products used in the teeth whitening procedure can cause damage to your dental enamel, tooth sensitivity or even irritation to your gums. To know, we will first look at how bleaching works and whether this process damages your teeth.
How Does Tooth Whitening Work?
The products that your family dentist uses for bleaching contain hydrogen peroxide, which diffuses through the enamel. The front surface of the teeth is initially covered with a whitening solution. The solution will then make its way to the dentin, passing through the tooth enamel. As a result, the inner-layer discoloured tissue will lighten. The hydrogen peroxide breaks down the compounds that cause discolouration, making your teeth lighter.
Strips or gels sold over the counter generally have a lower dose of hydrogen peroxide than bleaching treatments solely available through dentists.
The peroxide concentrations in bleaching treatments used by dentists for Bolton dental office treatments can be as high as 40%. Although the bleaching technique is similar, these treatments must be closely monitored and only used in a dentist’s office. Dentists can also prescribe supervised at-home whitening treatments.
Is Whitening Safe for Enamel?
The tooth’s enamel protects the more sensitive and softer tissues like the dentin. However, some substances can break down the enamel. They include starch, acidic foods and sugar. The enamel also protects against daily impacts like biting, chewing, grinding and crunching.
One sure way to know if your enamel is damaged is the yellow discolouration of your teeth. Dentin is responsible for your teeth’s colour, and it is found under the surface of the enamel.
To know if you or your dentist has used excess bleach on your teeth, the bleach used will have no further effects on your teeth. This means your teeth can not become more white. When this is the case, more usage of the peroxide will begin breaking down the enamel’s protein, which alters its structure. It would be best if you visited your family dentist so that they can look at the progress of the bleaching agent, and this is by use of shade guides.
Over-the-counter bleaching products have been linked to substantial enamel damage, most likely due to unsupported over-bleaching. Therefore, you should look for a dentist who does teeth whitening in Bolton and can offer their services to ensure you do not over-bleach your teeth.
The most visible negative effect of bleaching is tooth sensitivity, when patients eat hot or cold liquids or foods. Multiple variables, including peroxide content, application duration, and the existence of faulty restorations, fissures, or cavities, might cause it. It is critical to emphasize that extreme sensitivity is not a positive indicator and that pain is your ‘red flag’ indicating something is out of bounds.
Whiten Your Teeth Without Damage
Everyone desires to have a bright smile, which is possible by having white teeth. There are ways you can whiten your teeth without damaging your gums and enamel.
First, baking soda can be used to whiten teeth. You have to make sure you brush your teeth gently as the baking soda can be abrasive on your teeth. Baking soda is an effective option for whitening your teeth as it can eliminate stains from your teeth’s surface.
You can also use whitening strips to whiten your teeth. Whitening strips, these at-home tooth-bleaching treatments adapt to the contour of your teeth. The American Dental Association has approved the safety and efficiency of whitening strips, and therefore you can whiten your teeth at home.
Another sure way to avoid damage to your teeth during teeth whitening is by visiting your dentist. Ask your dentist about the best bleaching products for teeth that have yellowed due to age and teeth stained by food and drink. Visiting your dentist is also important as they can fix dental issues like gum disease before whitening your teeth.
Do you desire to whiten your teeth? Then, do not hesitate to visit South Hill Dental, and we will whiten your teeth for you and brighten your smile.