Dental whitening is probably the most popular of all the cosmetic dental procedures. And while a growing number of dentists, and patients, would classify dental whitening as routine, this seemingly harmless procedure actually carries with it a number of risks. Here are just some of the things that you need to know before you have your pearly whites undergo a whitening makeover:
Active ingredients for dental whitening procedures differ and so do their time requirements.
In order for dental whitening products to be able to give their intended effects, which is to whiten your teeth, the fact of the matter is that they contain different types of chemicals. The two most common whitening agents added into whitening gels and kits are hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide. While carbamide peroxide requires more time to work because of the fact that it has just a third of the strength of hydrogen peroxide, the latter must be handled more strictly because leaving hydrogen peroxide to interact with your teeth a minute too long can result in permanent enamel damage.
If you want to make sure that your pearly whites are protected throughout the entire process of making them appear brighter, then you should opt for in-office whitening instead of the using at-home whitening kits since your dentist would be more qualified to oversee the procedure.
There is a certain maximum level of whiteness that you can go.
Some patients become disappointed when they go to the dentist to have their teeth whitened only to find out that the results are not what they expected. While some individuals would want their teeth to be glaringly white, there is, unfortunately, a certain level of whiteness that you can go but you cannot go much further from there. For this reason, ask your dentist straightaway just how white you can go before you commit to the treatment.
Excessive dental whitening can lead to serious complications.
When your teeth is exposed to too much of the whitening agent, you could develop teeth sensitivity because of the destruction to the enamel layer of your teeth which enables the microscopic pores of the dentin to be exposed. Another complication of over whitening your teeth is that your gums could become irritated which can last for a couple of days. Lastly, if you have had dental work done on your teeth, you may develop technicolor teeth because porcelain dental works are resistant to whitening agents.
Image Courtesy Pinterest
