Teeth Whitening – The Shocking Truth

Want whiter teeth? Dr Rachel Hall reveals the shocking and painful reality behind teeth whitening.

Popular cheap online teeth whitening kits can cause serious irreversible damage to your teeth and gums.

Whitening your teeth can transform your appearance and knock years off your age but if it goes wrong, you could end up damaging your teeth and your smile could look worse than ever.

Do It Yourself Teeth Whitening – Dangers

Do-it-yourself kits have grown in popularity in recent years as sparkly-toothed celebrities inspire people to get their look. These kits are illegal in the UK. And in the UK and USA, it is illegal for anyone other than a dental professional to carry out teeth whitening procedures.

The problem is kits costs as little as $20 and so are seen as an affordable alternative to professional dentistry. But what is the cost when these kits cause damage to your teeth and gums? They main seem like a quick and cheap alternative but they are definitely not worth it in the long term as the damage that they can do to teeth is shocking and expensive to repair.

Teeth Whitening Rules

When it comes to teeth whitening there are strict guidelines for dental professionals on which whitening products we can use and specifically on the strength of the gels. A gel that is too strong can burn your mouth and damage your teeth causing pain and sensitivity, whereas a gel that is not strong enough will not work.

The main issue with DIY kits is that they aren’t adapted to the shape of your mouth or teeth, unlike the ones a dentist provides where we make custom made trays that fit your mouth perfectly. This ensures the gel works more effectively, and there is less likelihood of gel seeping out onto the gums, which is one of the causes of damage to the mouth.

Side effects of these dangerous kits include blistered gums, which is caused by the illegal levels of whitening ingredients leaking out of the mouth trays, and gum shrinking caused by a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide.

Nerve damage is also another worrying side effect, as the gum shrinks, this can expose the nerves inside, leading to sensitive teeth and pain.

If a deal looks too good to be true, it usually is, so if you are considering teeth whitening avoid the cheap kits and make sure you see a dentist or a regulated dental professional.

See A Dentist Before Whitening Your Teeth

You should always consult your dentist before you have any kind of teeth whitening treatment. A qualified dentist can check for any decay or cavities, cracks or leaking fillings which whitening products can seep into, causing irreversible damage and extreme pain and the need for expensive dental treatment that could have been avoided.

Call us to find out about our safe and cost-effective teeth whitening treatments and get a brighter, whiter smile today. 07 3720 1811