Is teeth whitening safe?
Everyone can whiten their teeth safely and effectively as long as you're going to the right places.
Professional whitening
When it comes to professional whitening (using peroxide), you need to be very careful. If not used properly, these whitening kits can cause severe damage to your teeth, gums and oral tissues.
A registered dentist must carry out professional whitening because they go through extensive training to ensure they carry it out safely and know how to deal with any complications. Since dentists are regulated, you will also be protected if they did not carry out the treatment safely for any reason.
It is illegal for anyone else to carry out professional teeth whitening because you will not have the same amount of expert care or protection. Any non-dental shops or salons selling peroxide whitening are not trading legally, and you can not guarantee their safety.
Complications of poorly executed professional whitening include:
Pain from cracked, decayed and worn down teeth.
Burns to your gums, cheeks and lips.
Loss of tooth vitality (the nerve inside the tooth dies).
Poor/uneven results.
Whitening kits and toothpaste
Over the counter products that you find in supermarkets and online stores contain safer lower levels of peroxide (less than 0.1% Hydrogen peroxide).
These whitening kits are safe to use; however, they may not be very effective at achieving long-term whitening results. They will make your tooth look whiter, but the effects don't last long and require frequent use to maintain the white look.
Home remedies
Most home remedies lack enough scientific evidence to prove how well they work, but you need to be aware of some risks before trying them.
Oil pulling is generally a safe practice and can have some positive oral health effects on your gum health.
Baking soda is abrasive and will remove stains from your teeth, but long-term use can roughen your teeth and make them look matte.
Just don't even think about trying to use household bleach to make your own whitening product. This is EXTREMELY dangerous.
Lemon water, apple cider vinegar, and other fruit-based liquids are acidic and will wear down the enamel of your teeth. We do not recommend using lemons, other fruits, or acids to whiten your teeth.
Activated charcoal hasn't been proven to whiten your teeth. Many experts say charcoal products make your teeth look whiter because your eyes get used to the darkness of the product. We aren't aware of any dangers of using charcoal products.
So how do you get whiter teeth safely?
Make sure you are cleaning your teeth well and you are having your teeth checked regularly by a dentist.
See a hygienist regularly for a professional cleaning and stain removal.
Ask your dentist or hygienist about professional teeth whitening.
If you are not ready for professional whitening, consider a home kit from a reputable brand that doesn't contain high levels of peroxide or acidic products.
Avoid unlicensed or illegal practitioners offering peroxide teeth whitening.
Avoid rubbing acidic and abrasive things onto your teeth.
Chat to us for free
If you have any questions about teeth whitening, our team of dentists will be glad to help, just get in touch by clicking here.
