The Truth About Teeth Whitener Gel
As with all surgical or physical enhancement procedures, there are some risks associated with the process. Despite teeth whitener gel being a relatively safe thing to apply to oneself, there are inherent dangers with the process. I have listed below the most common risks associated with the product:
Certain teeth whitener gels can produce chemical burns if an oxidizing agent of high-concentration comes into contact with tissues which are unprotected. This can result in discolored membranes. The most common cause of this are the trays not fitting properly around areas of the mouth, letting it leak out and cause burns. This can be quite painful and leave scarring.
Your teeth may also become sensitive to the touch. This is one of the most unfortunate and painful side effects that can happen as a result of whitening. Not being able to eat food properly due to pain and sensitivity is not a fun thing to experience.
Another risk is over bleaching your teeth, a self explanatory affliction known by dentists and teeth care professionals as “over white teeth“. Studies have shown that the whiteness gained by gels can go away after a few weeks after the treatment and sometimes the shades can retract back to a darker shade than originally. This is a major concern as you’d be paying to get your smile brightened and might wind up with the exact opposite effect.
One of the most common and feared side effects are your teeth losing their whiteness, a symptom referred to as “rebound” by industry professionals. Certain studies have shown that sometimes your teeth indeed actually darken up to an amount of 4 shades after a 30 day period has passed.
Studies have also shown that home bleaching treatments, such as an at home tooth whitener gel package can slightly reduce the enamel on your teeth. However, long term studies have shown this reduction to be of an insignificant amount. So don’t worry, your enamel is safe with these home procedures.
The most frequent risks involved with these processes are sensitivity in the tooth as well as an increase in irritability in the gums, more frequently occurring in the beginning stages of the procedure. Believe it or not, the culprit isn’t the dreaded agent which actually bleaches your teeth, it’s an improperly fitted mouth piece tray which spreads the tooth whitener gel. These symptoms usually ease up and completely cease bothering patients after one to three days.
Teeth whitener gel is not recommended for anyone under the age of 17, due to the nerves in the teeth not being completely developed. It would be unfortunate if your child received stunted teeth growth due to something that might be deemed unnecessary for her age bracket. Pregnant women who are currently lactating should also consider waiting before bleaching their teeth.