The most common teeth whitening side effects reported by patients include increased teeth sensitivity to cold and hot food and drinks and tooth pain.
These teeth whitening side effects can be caused by the penetration of the bleaching agent, normally hydrogen peroxide, through the tooth enamel into pulp. Hydrogen peroxide can cause slight inflammation of the pulp which leads to increased teeth sensitivity.
Other reasons for these teeth whitening side effects are that teeth may get overly dehydrated during the bleaching process or exposed to elevated heat levels if light or laser is used in treatment.
Teeth may lose their new overly white color especially following a more aggressive treatment within a short period of time with higher concentration of bleaching agents. Intense white tooth color is achieved in part by tooth dehydration during the procedure.
It is also has been shown that teeth whitening procedures reduce the thickness and hardness of the tooth enamel. If pain or teeth sensitivity persist, consult your dentist.
Teeth whitening is not recommended for children and young people up to the age of sixteen as the tooth nerves are enlarged in this age and can be more susceptible to inflammation and side effects.
People who are very sensitive or allergic to hydrogen peroxide should avoid using teeth whitening procedures involving this bleaching agent. Also, prolonged use of teeth whitening kits, especially home whitening kits that contain fruit acids may lead to damage of the tooth enamel.
If you have sensitive teeth, sensitive or receding gums, defective teeth restorations you are advised to consult your dentist prior to any teeth whitening treatment.
More and more people are thinking about having their teeth whitened. As with any cosmetic treatment, whether it be hair or weight related, teeth whitening has its risks, dangers and side effects. Various whitening treatments will use various techniques to accomplish the whitening of teeth.
What Are The Side Effects Of Teeth Whitening?
The side effects that are most often reported are sensitivity of the teeth and irritation of the gums. Most people will feel only minor discomfort during a treatment. When using a tray system to perform the whitening yourself, you can alleviate your teeth whitening side effects by using the trays less frequently. In some cases, it's best to stop using your teeth whitening tray altogether until the side effects have completely disappeared.If you're thinking about whitening your teeth, make sure you inform yourself on the possible side effects first.
Teeth Whitening Side Effects
The absolute worst thing that can go wrong with teeth whitening is that you will damage your tooth enamel. The chemical known as hydrogen peroxide is used in teeth whitening treatments because of its oxidizing properties. With a teeth whitening treatment, the hydrogen peroxide gets into the enamel and starts breaking down the stains. There are also more harmless whitening products such as whitening toothpaste and whitening mouthwash.