Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Over Bleaching Can Ruin your Smile

The most popular restorative dental procedure on the planet can work wonders for stained or yellow teeth, but according to your dentist, if tooth-whitening products are used daily, you could be asking for trouble.

Ten years ago, most people had no idea what tooth whitening was. However, that has certainly changed with dozens of over the counter tooth bleaching kits available to anyone who has the desire to whiten their smile. Tooth whitening toothpaste is now more popular than those that contain fluoride.  

When used correctly professional custom-made tooth whitening kits and even products available from your local pharmacy will give you a brighter grin. The American Dental Association recommends that you use an over the counter product for no more than two weeks and your custom-made bleaching kit from your dentist as recommended. Power bleaching, or chair side tooth whitening, should only be done once or twice a year at the most.

Over bleaching your teeth can cause sensitivity. In fact, some suffer from sharp pains that can happen out of the blue. If you bleach your teeth too often, you may also become sensitive to hot and cold when you eat or drink. Some people may experience burning gums, mild tingling, or even intense pain known as, “Zingers.”

Other problems that can occur with over whitening, or, “Bleachorexia,” are bluish enamel, transparent teeth and gum sensitivity. Some people who believe that their teeth are never white enough could also be causing internal damage because of a cracked tooth or an undetected cavity. Not only will this cause pain, but it may mean an emergency trip to the dentist’s office for a root canal.

Your dentist recommends that you aim for a color that will match the whites of your eyes. Anything whiter and you run the risk of going overboard.

Thankfully you don’t have to resort to ancient tooth whitening techniques such as ground pumice and wine vinegar used by the Greeks, or urine, which was a favorite tooth whitening treatment used by the Romans. These days there are plenty of products that will give you a beautiful smile, just be sure to follow the instructions if you are using an over the counter product or a tooth whitening kit from your dentist.

For more information regarding tooth whitening or any other dental restoration procedure, including dental veneers or dental bonding, schedule an appointment with your dentist who can determine was is best for your needs.