Teeth Whitening: Pros, Cons, and How to Do It Safely

We all love our morning cuppa – either piping hot chai or a good, frothy filter kaapi in the morning. The caffeine boost definitely helps us deal with the day better but prolonged exposure can lead to staining of our teeth. It is a pretty gradual process. Think of all the food we eat in a typical day – they can also exacerbate the problem. There are two kinds of stains- intrinsic and extrinsic ones which can affect teeth. They are normally caused due to very high levels of fluoride in drinking water, consumption of coloured food and drinks or prolonged antibiotic usage. Thankfully, there is no need to stop smiling and worry about stained teeth now, as teeth whitening kits are readily available for use at home. But you should consider getting professional help for the best results.

Best Ways To Whiten Teeth Safely At Home

There are many ways you can go about bleaching your teeth- by using specific toothpastes, mouthwash, gels or you can set up an appointment with your dentist. Generally, abrasive or whitening substances like hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide or baking soda are used. Though they are of low potency, some people may still face issues afterwards. So, reading the instructions and following them should help reduce side effects. Gels are commonly applied on the teeth and you wear a mouth guard to ensure you don’t bite down or expose your gums and tongue to the product. At times, UV light lamps may also be provided or may be in-built in the mouth guards provided. If the mouth guard provided doesn’t fit you well, you risk exposing your gums to peroxide- which can cause issues for some time. 

Whitening treatments are not the same as getting your teeth cleaned. If you choose to get it done by a dentist, you can be sure of achieving results very quickly, as they use more concentrated products that contain higher percentages of the active ingredient needed to bleach your teeth by several shades.

What Are The Risks Of Teeth Whitening Treatments?

There are unfortunately some risks associated with teeth whitening procedures:

• The hydrogen peroxide or carbamide may cause bleeding gums and sensitivity in some people. 
• You should always read the leaflet provided very carefully and stick to the timings given- for example- if the kit says you can leave the gel or strip on for 30 minutes or so many hours, don’t push your luck and extend usage. You can cause more harm than good by damaging your enamel permanently. 
• You may also feel some sharp pain when you drink or eat something hot or cold.

Pros And Cons Of Professional Teeth Whitening

The major pro is you can definitely look forward to smiling more openly. But teeth whitening is not really a medical necessity. Plus, if you choose the right product and follow the instructions, then you will get whiter looking teeth which won’t look unnatural.

The cons however may outweigh the cosmetic pro- it can cause sensitivity or bleeding temporarily. You cannot use this method to whiten your teeth if you have veneers, caps or fillings.

Conclusion

If you are someone who is looking to dazzle everyone with a great smile, then you can consider going for teeth whitening treatments. But remember- too much of a good thing is bad for you- use too many of these products and you risk harming your enamel permanently in the long term. So, think long and hard about why you’d like to get this done. Remember- your smile alone doesn’t matter, it is your eyes and your general disposition which will help you in the long run!