There’s no denying it; people want white teeth. Whiter teeth boost self-confidence, improve self-esteem, and create a great first impression.
Activated charcoal, baking soda, peroxide, and coconut oil are touted as inexpensive at-home teeth whitening methods, but what cost are these to your dental health?
While it may be tempting to try DIY methods of whitening your teeth, it’s essential to ensure that your white smile is also a healthy smile. Professional teeth whitening services guarantee a whiter smile without compromising your oral health.
Discover why you should avoid DIY teeth whitening at home.
Dangers of Whitening Your Teeth at Home
At-home DIY teeth whiteners are inexpensive yet potentially dangerous if overused or misused. While many products promise a quick fix, they’re often at the expense of your oral hygiene.
Consider the following dangers before attempting to whiten your teeth at home.
Damage to Enamel
Tooth enamel forms a hard shell around your teeth that serves as a barrier that protects the inner layers of your teeth, also known as dentin. Without enamel, your teeth are susceptible to cavities and decay.
Unlike professional teeth whitening, DIY whitening products often contain chlorine dioxide. This corrosive substance is the same acid used to disinfect drinking water and swimming pools.
While it may be effective in removing tough stains, it will also strip the enamel of your teeth. Without this protective barrier, your teeth are exposed to damage and infections.
Damage to Gums
Gums play a significant role in your oral health. They act as a protective layer against disease-causing bacteria. Without healthy gums, you may experience irritation, bleeding, and damage to supporting bone tissue.
Unfortunately, if you use at-home whitening products, you’re more susceptible to gum disease. That’s because most DIY products contain hydrogen peroxide. While peroxide may help whiten the teeth, it can also inflame your gums and lead to severe damage such as gum recession.
Gum recession exposes the roots of your teeth to decay and infection. You may also find discomfort when eating and drinking hot and cold things.
Chemical Burns
Many at-home teeth whitening kits ask you to wear a mouthguard with active whitening ingredients for an extended period for optimum results. Because these kits contain high levels of hydrogen peroxide, you’re more at risk of receiving chemical burns due to spillage.
If the active whitening ingredients spill out of the mouthguard into your mouth, you may get severe chemical burns to your gums and tongue. Your gums can also become very pale and painful as a result.
Mouth Infections
Mouth infections may be caused by tooth decay making its way to the pulp chamber. As it progresses, it can spread to other parts of your body and cause serious complications. During this time, you may feel unwell, have a fever, and have an increased heart and breathing rate.
DIY teeth whitening kits and products can cause damage to gums and enamel and create chemical burns and wounds. These can all lead to mouth infections.
The good news is that most mouth infections are caught early. However, they can spread quickly and require emergency dentistry when left untreated. To avoid an emergency trip to your local dentist, skip the at-home kit altogether.
Abrasive Ingredients
Abrasive ingredients are added to toothpaste to help remove stains and clean the teeth. Companies that make toothpaste test the abrasive safety of toothpaste. This makes it okay to use and will not cause damage to your teeth.
However, if abrasive levels are too high, it can strip away the enamel and dentin. This may cause tooth sensitivity, cavities, and gum disease. Unfortunately, there’s no telling what the levels of abrasion are and the effect that it may have on your teeth.
Stay on the safe side and book a teeth whitening appointment with your local professional dentist.
Allergic Reaction
While minor, you should always consider the risk of an allergic reaction when using at-home teeth whitening products. You may experience burning and blistering of the gums or lips during an allergic reaction after or during use. You may also experience difficulty eating solid foods and talking in more severe cases.
It’s tempting to jump online and buy a quick-fix product, but you should never compromise your health for the sake of a whiter smile.
Benefits of Professional Whitening
Having a whiter smile shouldn’t be at the cost of your dental health. Skip the at-home whitening products and find out the top benefits of professional teeth whitening services:
- Personalized treatment
- Safer
- Longer-lasting results
- Faster results
- Even distribution of coloration
Most dental practices perform a pre-whitening examination before undergoing professional teeth whitening. This ensures that you are the ideal candidate and will respond to treatment. The best candidates have healthy teeth, thick enamel, and healthy gums.
And while DIY kits may seem like the cheaper option, once you consider the damage you may be subjecting your teeth to, it quickly adds up. To get the best results, most at-home kits require daily use. Overusing teeth-whitening products can weaken tooth enamel and lead to a higher risk of cavities.
Professional teeth whitening lasts longer and provides quicker results without compromising oral health.
Keep Your Teeth Healthy With Professional Whitening
Is whitening your teeth safe? Yes, as long as a professional dentist does it.
The affordable nature of DIY whitening products often stops people from booking professional teeth whitening from their local dentist. Unfortunately, this can damage the gums and enamel and cause chemical burns and wounds. Left untreated, this can develop into a mouth infection that requires immediate medical attention.
At Newbury Dental Group, we want to whiten your smile while also maintaining the health of your teeth. Our in-office teeth whitening treatment is typically completed within an hour and produces quality whitening results.
If you live in Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks, or the surrounding areas, why not benefit from our teeth whitening procedure?
Make an appointment today. We can’t wait to give you the smile of your dreams!