Many people wonder if teeth whitening is safe for your teeth. It is a common question as many think whitening treatments can’t be that safe for your teeth and gum health.
In reality, the correct answer depends on which teeth whitening method you choose to use. Many different products and treatments are available to whiten teeth, each with its own range of safety and efficacy. Let’s examine the four most common and popular whitening methods.
OTC Products
Over-the-counter teeth whitening products can be harmful to your teeth and oral health – even if following instructions correctly. This is due to the fact that they use hydrogen peroxide or aluminum oxide. These ingredients get rid of stained enamel – but they also can wear it down. OTC Products may also increase teeth sensitivity or tooth pain. While OTC whitening products can be effective, they do have safety concerns to be aware of.
DIY Solutions
Just the use of DIY should make you scream danger. Trying to craft your own whitening solution at home can be even more dangerous than OTC products. You can cause chemical burns (tissue burns) if you use the wrong percentage of each ingredient, which is something you want to avoid!
If you wish to create your own DIY whitening product, make sure to use natural ingredients and follow the instructions carefully.
Laser and LED Teeth Whitening
These treatments can produce the same side effects as over-the-counter products; teeth sensitivity and pain, but it’s just as safe as using OTC products.
Natural Options
Natural whitening agents don’t produce any of the long-term effects of teeth sensitivity and pain, thanks to less abrasive ingredients. Using orange peels, lemon juice and strawberries can be quite effective at whitening teeth. Just be careful, as these foods have high acidity which can increase tooth decay.
Conclusion
While no whitening option can give you a 100% safety guarantee, they are fairly safe to undergo, not considering DIY solutions. Most teeth sensitivity and pain post-treatment are temporary and wear off after a day or two.
LED Teeth Whitening is a newer, less harsh form of teeth whitening treatment that can give you noticeable results within just one session and last for a while before you may consider a recall treatment (depending on the types of food and drinks you eat of course).
At Teeth Whitening Academy, we offer teeth whitening technician training online for LED Teeth Whitening certification using advanced blue light technology to help make smiles visibly brighter quickly, efficiently, and safely.