DIY Teeth Whitening: It It Worth The Risk?
When you are running short of time in your daily life, it is often tempting to find shortcuts which can help you achieve results without taking more hours out of your day. This is one reason why do-it-yourself teeth whitening has become popular. Why try and find time to head to your dentist when there are products you can purchase to do the job at home? Unfortunately, a new warning has just been issued by dentists in Perth who are concerned about the damage being done by DIY teeth whitening kits. Here are the points you need to know.
Are All DIY Teeth Whitening Kits Bad?
There are a number of different products you can purchase on the internet to whiten your teeth at home. Some are worse than others. For example, a tooth-whitening toothpaste is at the lower scale of products which can damage your teeth. While it can help to lighten some stains, the abrasiveness of whitening toothpaste can thin down enamel if used too often. At-home whitening kits which you fill with gel and then place over your teeth are definitely a bad idea if you cannot verify the source of the product.
Tooth-whitening kits use chemicals, and the amount of the chemical allowed to be used in the kit is regulated by Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP). At present a kit can only be sold to the public if it contains hydrogen peroxide of 6% or less, and/or carbamide peroxide of 18% or less. If the product you are considering buying does not meet these regulatory requirements, then it should not be used.
How Can DIY Teeth Whitening Hurt Your Teeth?
DIY teeth whitening can go wrong in a number of different ways:
- If the gel is not uniformly applied, then your teeth may be patchy
- Bleach on the gums can cause burns or gum irritation
- Strong bleach can weaken the tooth enamel, leaving the teeth overly sensitive
While it is tempting to try and whiten your teeth at home, it is more advantageous to visit your dentist to have this professionally done. They have the expertise to make sure no damage is done to the teeth during the whitening process. Plus, if there are any after-effects of the tooth whitening, such as adverse sensitivity, then they have the tools to make sure your recovery is monitored. Don't let a busy life lead to permanent tooth damage.
