02 Apr Dangers of Excessive Teeth Whitening
As the number of advertisements of tooth-whitening toothpastes has started to grow, the act of comparing the whiteness of one’s teeth with another has become an obsession. Having the most perfect white smile has now become more affordable. Those shy smiles are long gone with the advent of teeth whiteners. But as they say that excess of anything is harmful, so is true in this case too.
Abuse of tooth whiteners can be really dangerous.
• Tooth sensitivity
One is bound to get a tingling sensation while having too hot or too cold stuff. Also, there is a good chance that tooth may turn sensitive to air as well. The degree to which this can be a problem is unambiguous.
• Damage of Tooth Enamel
The ingredients present in the teeth whiteners found in general stores are not very safe for the tooth enamel. They tend to weaken the enamel, consequently weakening the gum-protecting barrier. This leads to tooth decay. However, ingredients used by dentists do not put to enamel to danger.
• Uneven Whitening
This can occur when one tries tooth whitening at home. Teeth may appear streaked and also some teeth might seem slightly whiter than the others. Bleaching of teeth often gives the teeth a splotchy appearance. Whiteners having comparatively high peroxide content tend to have this effect.
• Gum Irritation
The caustic nature of peroxide present in whiteners causes irritation in gums and also might damage oral tissues like cheeks, lips, tongue, etc. Gums may become extremely sensitive to hot and cold extremes. It is also possible that gums burn in certain places. Therefore, it is necessary to be cautious while going through teeth bleaching.
• Throat Irritation
One of the lesser known and undeniably true facts is that one could swallow a certain amount of whitener while going through teeth bleaching. Itching and irritation in the tissues present in the lining of the throat might make it almost impossible to swallow food or drinks.
Evidently, excessive or uneducated use of tooth whiteners is not that safe after all! Caution is required during teeth bleaching. Consulting a dentist before going for tooth whitening process is highly recommended. One must be extremely careful while selecting the kind of whiteners they are using.
If you have any questions or are interested in learning more about the safe methods to whiten your teeth, please contact the team at Signal Hill Dental Centre as we’d be more than happy to discuss the process with you!