As fun as the do-it-yourself approach can be, you shouldn’t apply it to teeth whitening. Popular ways to brighten your grin personally are dangerous, carrying many oral health risks. You’d be better off getting professional teeth whitening from a dental practice instead. If you’d like proof of these facts, your Washington dentist will gladly provide some for you. Just keep reading to learn about the notable dangers of DIY teeth whitening, as well as why “pro” whitening is the better option.
All DIY Whiteners are Risky
While several DIY whitening methods exist, they all put your smile in danger. Simply consider the types (and their effects) below:
Charcoal Toothpaste & Powder
Charcoal toothpaste and powder are widely thought to be effective tooth whiteners, especially in online circles. Even so, the truth is nearly the opposite; these products can actually make your teeth look (and feel) worse over time. Activated charcoal is highly abrasive by nature, so using it will greatly erode your tooth enamel and expose the underlying dentin. These effects elevate your risk of cavities, tooth sensitivity, and more.
Over-the-Counter Gels & Strips
Many outlets sell over-the-counter gels and strips, but such items aren’t safe. Often enough, their unsupervised use can cause bleaching gel to reach your gums. The resulting irritation can be rather painful, triggering soreness, occasional white spots, etc.
Store-Bought Bleaching Kits
All in all, store-bought bleaching kits tend to do more harm than good. Most will damage the user’s enamel without qualified supervision, causing one’s teeth to weaken. Their lack of vetting also means their gel can enter a tooth’s chamber; you’d experience pain and require professional care if that happens.
Consider “Pro” Teeth Whitening Instead
Unlike DIY whitening, “pro” teeth whitening is both safe and effective. It can provide you with a much brighter smile without damaging your teeth, gums, or the rest of your mouth.
Note that a dentist’s bleaching gel isn’t abrasive at all. As such, it won’t wear down or erode your tooth enamel once applied to your smile. The whitener will just seep into your grin and remove your mild to moderate tooth stains. Once it wraps up, it’ll leave you with much whiter pearly whites.
Also, a dentist’s teeth whitening is customized for you. That means treatment will take your oral health, dental history, and other key factors into account. In doing so, it’ll ensure your shiny teeth don’t come at the cost of your smile’s strength.
Given the dangers of DIY teeth whitening, try to avoid it going forward. You can always get a nicer smile by seeing a dentist instead!
About the Practice
Today’s Family Dental is based in Washington, NJ. Led by Drs. Robert Rosso and Maureen Maximos, our practice aims to give each smile exactly what it needs. We thus offer personalized and comfortable dentistry, with treatments spanning preventive, cosmetic, and restorative work. Our team is also ready and able to provide dental emergency care on short notice. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (908)-689-8887.