Teeth Whitening Safety

Are you thinking about having your teeth whitened? Before you take the plunge, think about the safety issues here. Whether you are getting a treatment from a professional dentist or you are going to use an over the counter product for use at home, there's always a risk. Some people have used products incorrectly and have damaged their gums and teeth. While a dentist usually knows what he's doing, you should be very careful when using these whitening kits at home.

Over the counter teeth whitening products must be used exactly as they have been intended. They come with a gel that contains carbamide peroxide. This contains hydrogen peroxide, which is a very aggressive substance. When too high a dosage is applied to your teeth, or if your teeth are exposed to it for too long, you can sustain serious damage to your enamel. And once your enamel has been damaged too much, it won't recover and your teeth will remain more sensitive permanently.

Because the producers of at home whitening kits take teeth whitening safety very seriously, most of them will usually not provide you with a whitening solutions that has a higher than 10% concentration of carbamide peroxide. So the risk of applying too much has already been eliminated right there. The producer can't help it if you keep the gel in contact with your teeth for too long, though.

Teeth Whitening Safety

Before you have anything done by either a whitening dentist and before you try out a whitening kit for yourself, consult your regular dentist first. Ask him what he has to say about the product or service that you are eyeing. If he doesn't like it, ask him to recommend you something else.

There is the possibility that you are allergic to one or more of the compounds used in teeth whitening gel. These gels have a very aggressive active ingredient called hydrogen peroxide, which is especially dangerous to swallow or to get in your eye. It may only be used inside of your mouth and even there it can't stay for too long! Remember the 10% rule and you are already at a very low risk of developing any nasty teeth whitening side effects.

When buying an over the counter product, always check it for a certification, seal of approval or a license from some dental association. This is a 'guarantee' to you that the product will work and that it is relatively safe.

Even when you've bought a certified product, you will still need to read the instructions and use the product correctly. Read those instructions closely and take them seriously. When you damage your teeth's enamel because you've kept your tray or strip in for too long, your teeth will be more sensitive and painful permanently!