Are Teeth Whiteners Safe?

Teeth whitening has become increasingly popular throughout the years, with more and more people purchasing over the counter products and getting costly procedures done at their dental offices. But just how safe is bleaching your teeth?

At the start of my college years I joined the bleaching craze. I bought a huge box of white strips and eagerly came home and placed one on the top and bottom rows of my teeth. Within just a few days I could tell a difference with my teeth color. I was thrilled that it was working and I didn’t just waste $35. But then, something happened. If I was chewing food that was either real warm or cold, my teeth would ache. Eating ice cream or other cold treats were out of the questions. Even taking drinks from a water bottle or cup became a painful process, and I had to start drinking everything out of a straw because the pain was too bad on my teeth. I had suffered from sensitive teeth in the past, but this was an extreme pain that was making the small task of eating or drinking nearly impossible.

After researching my problem on the internet, I scheduled an appointment with my dentist to see what was going on. Turns out, the white strips were slowly stripping my teeth of their enamel, causing intense sensitivity. I had to immediately stop use of the strips and after time the sensitivity disappeared and my mouth felt back to normal.

That was four years ago. A few months back I bought a different type of tooth whitener; this was a gel that I placed over my teeth with a q-tip and let sit for five minutes once a day. This process took longer to turn my teeth a whiter color, but I have experienced no pain or sensitivity, just better looking teeth.

So what are the differences with teeth whiteners and how can you be sure you are getting a safe product? I found an article on Yahoo! Health that helped answer some of my questions, and the answers made me less confident in my daily whitening routine. Research has shown that using an at home whitening procedure for 2 weeks at a time once or twice a year should have no long term effects, but those chances decrease if you use a whitener daily. Also safe: a one time visit to the dentist for a whitening procedure, or a dentist prescribed whitening tray worn at a night a few weeks out of the year.

The dangers of tooth whitening are more than just pain and sensitivity, but can include gum irritation, bluish enamel, uneven whiteness, and can even lead to needing a root canal. This can occur if the bleach seeps into a crack in the teeth or an unfilled cavity.

So what is the safest method for whitening your teeth? The American Society for Dental Aesthetics states they are only comfortable recommending a custom fit whitening tray from a dentist. The tray will help keep the bleach from spreading on the gums and other tissue in the mouth, decreasing any harmful effects. If you do want to try an at home treatment to save money, check with your dentist first. There might be a cavity that needs taken care of before you start bleaching, or other dangers lurking in your mouth that your dentist would recommend against doing a teeth whitening kit.

Source: Laurel Naversen Geraghty, Prevention