‘safety’ Tagged Posts

Are Teeth Whitening Products Safe?

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), an organization that has been following the teeth whitening industry for over a decade, they have ...

 

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), an organization that has been following the teeth whitening industry for over a decade, they have determined that tooth brightening products of peroxide (dental bleaching agents) is safe and acceptable.

Whitening products that use no abrasives that may damage the enamel of the teeth and use a low level of active ingredients is actually good for your teeth, according to many dentists. Not only does it help to remove plaque and tarter by regular use but many users begin to pay a little bit more attention to the care of their mouths when rewarded with a bright shiny smile.

Because there has to be a regular schedule of using any tooth whitening product that you chose in order to maintain your new look, your teeth and mouth are thought about much more than before. Maybe you only brushed your teeth once a day or didn’t see the point in flossing but now that you have an incredible mouth of teeth that you actually like, you want to care for them.

All whitening products on the market today have been tested and proven to be safe when the directions are followed. No one wants to harm the enamel or tissues of their teeth and watching your teeth slowly change from yellow to white is an amazing metamorphic change to watch.

With the approval of the ADA, you can rest assured that there will be no harm to your teeth. Of course, if you happen to have some type of reaction, see your dentist at once, as another problem may be present.

How Safe is Tooth Whitening?

 

It’s fairly normal for anyone contemplating using a tooth whitening system to question how safe the procedure can be. After all, you are going to have to put something in your mouth, on your teeth, to get the results you want. Therefore, asking the question is not only important, it is an essential bit of knowledge to have before proceeding.

Yes it is – if practiced correctly. Furthermore, let’s put this myth to bed – whitening does NOT involve stripping all the enamel off the teeth before these can be whitened. The practice of teeth whitening includes the use of gels that contain 10 percent, or less, of carbamide peroxide, which is about the same as less than 4 percent of hydrogen peroxide. This amount has no damaging effect upon tooth enamel. A dentist may use higher concentrations but this is set off by using fluoride treated formulas. In the event a higher concentration whitening gel is called for, fluoride gels can be prescribed as further teeth protection when employing this whitening treatment.

There is an exception to the daily practice whitening teeth in the event you suffer from gum irritation or develop a highly sensitive reaction to the treatment. In this scenario it is better to reduce the number of applications and possibly the amount of treatment time spent during each. Instead of daily applications, try every other day to see if this helps reduce the irritating effects from the whitening treatment. You might want to consider prescription fluoride that is also used to treat sensitivity and is also associated with tooth whitening as well.

Gum irritation can occur regardless if the treatment is in-office by your licensed dentist or through an at-home tooth whitening system. However, there are readily available commercial treatments to eliminate this condition, especially when using a home treatment system.

Safety Concerns Associated with Peroxide Used in Professional Teeth Whitening Treatments

 

There are many safety concerns associated with peroxide used in professional teeth whitening treatment. Since the 1990s, this substance has been used in in-office bleaching tray systems and in laser teeth whitening procedures. The gel typically has a large percentage of hydrogen peroxide in order to increase the effectiveness of the procedure and to reduce the amount of time that it takes to achieve dramatic changes when it comes to the color that is reflected on the teeth. The main concern surrounding hydrogen peroxide relates to the fact that it possesses the capability of producing what is referred to as “free radicals” in the medical community.

If you want to understand the safety concerns regarding peroxide on professional teeth whitening services, it is important to understand what free radicals are. These are a type of “piece” that combines with other pieces in order to create a main molecule. Once introduced to a certain area, they will move quickly to try to locate the parts that are needed to make them “whole”. This may result in damage that is considered to be “oxidative”. This means that an individual may suffer from conditions such increased levels of aging, a stroke, or a health condition similar in nature. When it comes to the oral health, hydrogen peroxide may prove to be damaging to the soft tissue gum area, or even to the teeth themselves.

Nearly 100% of the professional teeth whitening procedures performed on individuals contain such high levels of peroxide, which many are starting to veer away from the treatments due to the potential long-term dental conditions that may result from the treatments. If you want to have your teeth bleached, you will be happy to know that there are safer alternatives. At home teeth whitening kits contain only a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. The case studies have shown that small traces of this substance contained in home treatments do not pose long-term dental health complications. If you want to ensure the safety of your mouth, yet want to indulge in teeth whitening, home procedures are your best option.