For most people, whitening teeth is strictly cosmetic. The cost of professional whitening treatments offered by your local dentist isn’t normally covered by insurance and the out-of-pocket costs can be high. The oral care industry has caught onto this and offers a slew of home whitening products that are designed to bleach your teeth, but some consumers and dental care professionals alike are asking whether or not home bleaching treatments are safe and/or effective?
Most dentists will tell you that when used according to the instructions, most home teeth whitening kits are safe. But new reports suggest that overuse and abuse of the products can cause permanent damage to tooth enamel and increase the sensitivity of a person’s teeth. So are home whitening kits safe to use?
Dentists recommend that before you use a home tooth whitening kit, you take part in a dental hygiene program or regimen that provide for a standard cleaning and x-rays as well as an oral exam. Routine cleanings are important because they can brighten up your smile simply by removing built-up tartar. Often the tartar, rather than the tooth enamel itself, is stained. Removing the tartar removes the stain and reveals a brighter, whiter tooth.
X-rays and oral examinations are also important because they can reveal any thin or weak teeth that could suffer long-term harm from home whitening products. Generally, however, if you have strong health teeth to begin with, and use the products according to instructions, the enamel on your teeth should be fine.
Once your teeth have been professionally cleaned and examined, then you can consider home whitening treatments. Normally, these treatments involve the use of gels or creams that coat the teeth and whiten the enamel. For this kind of treatment to be successful, it’s important for the whitening agent to make good, full contact with the surface of each tooth. Uneven application of the whitening paste or gel will result in unevenly whitened teeth.
Follow the product directions precisely, and brush and floss your teeth once the treatment is done. Do not repeat the treatment more often than directed and be careful when using toothpastes with whitening agents, or whitening pens. Overuse or abuse of these items can lead to permanent damage of your tooth enamel over time.
Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda can act as a whitening agent, but it won’t produce the instant results a professional bleaching treatment will. It is safe for repeated or regular use, inexpensive and will whiten teeth over time. To whiten your teeth with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, add a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to a little baking soda and make a paste. Using your toothbrush, apply the paste evenly and directly to the teeth. Let this mixture sit for about two to three minutes, then rinse completely with water. If desired brush your teeth with regular toothpaste afterward. You can safely repeat this daily or every other day for brighter, whiter teeth.
Some home remedies advocate using lemon juice to whiten your teeth. This is a very bad idea that could cause permanent damage to your enamel. Lemon juice strips teeth of their natural calcium (some of which may be off white in color). The lost calcium cannot be replaced, and that leads to the breakdown of enamel and the increased risk of tooth decay. Lemon juice, limejuice and other highly acidic foods should be avoided. If you eat acidic foods like lemons, limes, lemonade, orange juice, tomatoes or tomato juice, immediately brush your teeth to reduce acid exposure and possible enamel damage. Colas, coffees and teas also contain a lot of acid, so you should brush your teeth after drinking these beverages.
Young Lee is a recent graduate of a Dental Hygiene Program, she hopes to find a job soon at local dentistry. But on her free time show loves to freelance and read.
