What Are the Risks of Home Teeth Whitening?

Who doesn't want whiter teeth? A brilliant smile makes you feel more assured and confident and it makes you want to smile more!  Unfortunately, many things can stain your pearly whites, including coffee, tea, cola drinks, fruit juice, and certain brightly colored foods, like beets.

You might assume you have to go to a dentist to lighten your teeth, but more people are using home teeth whitening kits to lighten their teeth and add sparkle to their smile. Doing it at home is straightforward and inexpensive, but there are some risks to home teeth whitening you should know about. Let's look at each one so you don't end up with a bad outcome.

Teeth whitening kits usually consist of a bleaching solution you apply to your teeth and leave as directed to lighten your teeth. The bleaching or whitening agent is composed of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, although the way you apply the product may differ. For example, some use strips or gels while others require you to place a gel into a tray and place the tray in your mouth. The biggest upside of home teeth whitening kits is they're less expensive than lightening carried out in a dental office and you can do it in the comfort of your home.

Home Teeth Whitening vs. Office Whitening

How do home whitening systems differ from in-office teeth lightening? The concentration of the lightening agent, or bleach, is less than what you get if you book an appointment with a dentist to have your teeth lightened. So, the results are not as dramatic as you would get from a professional treatment at a dentist's office. But the big advantage is the ability to do it at home and the savings.

Are there drawbacks of using home teeth whitening kits? You could experience sensitivity after using a bleaching product, since the lightening agent can irritate your gums. The increased sensitivity can cause discomfort when you drink a cold beverage or bite into a hot piece of food. Fortunately, the sensitivity isn't permanent. If you have healthy gums, home whitening products won't cause permanent damage assuming the product doesn't contain high concentrations of bleach and the user doesn't keep the product on too long.

The key to using these products safely is to buy tooth whitening products from a reputable supplier and follow the instructions to the letter. Never leave whitening products longer than the instructions recommend, as doing so will cause further gum irritation. The risk of gum irritation is lower when a dentist whitens your teeth, since they take steps to protect your gums from the whitening solution.

Other Risks of Home Teeth Whitening Products

You might not be afraid of a little gum irritation, but are there other risks of using home whiteners? Recent studies suggest using these products may increase the risk of demineralization of the teeth and, if you use them frequently, the surface of the teeth may become softer. However, these are more likely to occur with high concentration bleaching formulas used in dental offices. It's not a big concern if you use home whitening kits with a lower concentration of the bleaching agent. However, you should avoid using teeth whitening products too frequently. If you notice teeth or gum sensitivity, cut back on the frequency with which you use these products.

Another concern is the effect the bleach in teeth whitening products has on dental work, like crowns and veneers. Studies show that even home teeth bleaching kits can discolor dental restorations. Don't use teeth whitening agents near an area where you've had a tooth restored or capped. Also, don't use them if have veneers. Along with the possibility of discoloring your veneers or restorations, teeth that are restored are likely to be more sensitive to the chemicals in teeth whitening products.

The Bottom Line

Home teeth whitening systems are safe, as long as you follow the instructions, but avoid applying the solution to dental restorations, and don't use them too often. Expect a little gum sensitivity and irritation afterwards, but the whitening benefits might be worth it when you look in the mirror and smile.

References:

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J Dent. 2013 Nov;41 Suppl 5:e70-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2012.12.007. Epub 2013 Jan 9.