Teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure in which stains are removed from the teeth by applying a bleaching agent. Many people like to get rid of their coffee and tobacco teeth stains, but they are concerned regarding the safety of the teeth whitening procedure. If you’re also one them, then this article will tell you how safe different teeth whitening procedure are.
Safety of Different Teeth Whitening Procedures
When we talk about teeth whitening, there are two options available; at-home and professional teeth whitening. Let’s compare the safety of both these options.
At-Home Teeth Whitening
this type of teeth whitening can be performed in the comfort of your home with the help of over the counter whitening formulas, whitening strips, and toothpaste. Generally, the domestic teeth whitening formulas and strips contain a very mild bleaching agent to prevent accidental staining of damage to the soft tissues of the oral cavity such as the lips, gums and the cheeks. On the other hand, the teeth whitening toothpaste contains a higher concentration of abrasive agents which mechanically remove surface stains from the teeth, these whitening toothpaste don’t, however, contain enough bleaching agent to have any noticeable effect.
- Is At-Home Teeth Whitening Safe? – the short answer is, yes. As discussed earlier, the domestic teeth whitening options contain a lower concentration of bleaching agent, which makes them quite safe for use at home. However, they are not as effective as the professional teeth whitening formulas which are used by the dentists.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening can only be done at a dentist’s office.
- Professional Teeth Whitening by a Dentist – dentists are trained and experienced in handling and using higher potency bleaching agents. As a result, professional teeth whitening by a dentist is more effective at removing teeth stains. Yet, the concentration of the bleaching agent is still in the safe limits for use in the oral cavity.
WARNING!
Teeth Whitening at Parlors or Beauty Spas – Don’t get these confused with genuine dentist teeth whitening, the beauty therapists do not have adequate training and in the UK it is also illegal for anyone other than a dental registrant to perform whitening.
Teeth Whitening; What can go Wrong?
From the above discussion, we can conclude that all types of teeth whitening procedures are generally safe, apart from whitening at a beauty spa, further information about teeth whitening treatments can be found here. However, there are chances that the teeth may become sensitive after professional teeth whitening as they contain higher potency bleaching agents. But this sensitivity is temporary, and it usually goes away in a few days.
So, if you are thinking about getting rid of your teeth stains, you can choose whichever option you like. While all options are safe, the difference lies in their cost, efficacy, and duration of application required for bringing about the desired results.
As ever, the choice is yours.
