Everybody wants a bright and beautiful smile. Throughout the centuries, people have tried a wide range of ways to whiten their teeth, and some of them could be quite harmful to one’s oral health. Today, you can find many teeth whitening products at stores and pharmacies, but trying to bleach out the stains in your teeth without the supervision of a trained dental professional can be risky. Here are some of the risks of using store-bought whitening products and why you should consider having a teeth whitening treatment from a dentist instead.
Store-Bought Teeth Whitening Treatments Can Be Risky
A store-bought teeth whitening kit will typically come with one-size-fits-all dental trays and a tube of over-the-counter whitening gel. It works by having the patient apply some of the gel to these trays and wearing them over their teeth. However, these one-size-fits-all trays do not actually fit everyone equally well. Patients with larger teeth may be left with an unevenly whitened smile, and those with smaller teeth risk exposing the soft tissues inside their mouths to these harsh whitening agents, which can cause injury or irritation.
DIY Teeth Whitening Can Be Dangerous
When you surf through social media, you may stumble upon a few at-home teeth whitening techniques that involve household items like baking soda, charcoal powder, or lemon juice. While these methods can lift stains, they do so by eroding the stained enamel from your teeth, exposing the fresh and white enamel beneath it. Though this may give you a whiter smile, it does so by destroying the protective layer of your teeth, leaving them more vulnerable to injuries and infections.
How Do Professional Teeth Whitening Treatments Work?
Professional teeth whitening treatments can leave your smile up to ten shades whiter, meaning they deliver results far superior to those of anything you can buy at the store. Your dentist can administer teeth whitening in one of two ways:
An in-office procedure
To whiten teeth in-office, your dentist will place barriers in your mouth to protect your soft tissues before applying a few coats of whitening agent to your teeth. This process can be completed in about an hour.
A take-home kit
A professional teeth whitening kit comes with a tube of concentrated whitening gel and a set of customized dental trays designed to fit your teeth. You’ll only need to place some of this gel into your trays and wear them over your teeth for about an hour every day for two weeks.
These are both safe and effective ways to whiten your teeth without the risk that comes with store-bought or DIY methods. Consulting with your dentist can determine if you are a suitable candidate for teeth whitening.
About the Author
Dr. Vincent Lam earned his dental doctorate at Temple University in Philadelphia and continues to further his education through postgraduate coursework. He is currently in the process of completing the John Kois curriculum for comprehensive dentistry. His office in Burien, WA offers general, restorative, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry such as teeth whitening services. To schedule a teeth whitening consultation, contact his office online or dial (206) 589-8556.