It
can be. Teeth whitening is easily the most popular cosmetic dentistry service we provide, but most patients who visit us have already tried one or more at-home whitening products before their appointment. Best case scenario, these patients see some minimal improvement. Worst case scenario, patients experience serious dental sensitivity or damage to their teeth and gums. In most cases, patients simply have little to no change in their oral health or the appearance of their smiles. Rather than wasting time and money and putting your smile at risk, consider scheduling a cosmetic dentistry consultation with a trusted professional for predictable, safe results.
How Teeth Whitening Works
So, why doesn’t store bought teeth whitening work? The answer is two fold. To effectively remove staining from the porous surfaces of teeth, whitening products need to remain active for several minutes, usually at least 30 minutes at a time. Additionally, the active whitening agent needs to be strong enough to break down the chemical bond between your tooth and the stain. Over the counter whitening products and DIY teeth whitening tricks can’t usually deliver on either of these teeth whitening necessities. Oral saliva exists to neutralize acids and prevent chemical reactions like oxidization, so when you brush-on teeth whitening toothpaste or gargle with whitening mouthwash, saliva almost instantly neutralizes any whitening agent. Even one size fits all application trays and whitening strips don’t completely prevent saliva from accessing the whitening agent, though they do typically stay active a bit longer. The other issue that occurs when using these products is a lack of active whitening agent. The doses are purposely kept low to avoid damage to teeth. That means even the best store bought, one-size-fits-all application tray system that remains active for a few minutes at a time can only deliver minimal results.
Why Teeth whitening Can Cause Sensitivity
Many patients think that because these store bought whitening products aren’t brightening their smiles and only contain minimal amounts of whitening agent they can’t damage teeth or soft tissue. Unfortunately, this isn’t true, especially for patients who commit to routinely using these products. Over time, highly abrasive whitening toothpastes can soften tooth enamel and lead to increased dental wear. Not only does this cause tooth yellowing as the inner tooth layers are exposed; it can also cause dental sensitivity. The repeated exposure to chemical reactions, even though the saliva neutralizes them quickly, can also lead to dental sensitivity after extended use of any over the counter whitening product.
Avoiding Dental Sensitivity
If you want to avoid dental sensitivity and see the desired result, you really need to work with a cosmetic dentistry professional. It’s that simple. Your dentist will provide a customized treatment plan that addresses the underlying causes of your dental discoloration and fits your unique smile. While even the best over the counter teeth whitening products can only brighten smiles about one shade, professional whitening products can safely whiten smiles up to ten shades.
Meet Dr. Kassem
Williamstown cosmetic dentist, Wael M. Kassem, DMD, has years of experience that allows him to offer teeth whitening services that predictably deliver results up to ten shades brighter for many patients. Additionally, Dr. Kassem will be able to tell you if your dental discoloration is caused by an underlying issue that teeth whitening won’t address. In these cases, he can offer a range of cosmetic dentistry solutions to meet your needs at iSmile Dental Arts. If you want a brighter smile, start with a call to our Williamstown dentistry team to schedule your cosmetic dentistry consultation. Even if you decide you want to try an over the counter whitening product, Dr. Kassem and his team can help you find the safest, most effective options and avoid dental sensitivity.
