Side Effects of Whitening White Teeth With Bleaching

Medical Video: Teeth Whitening / Bleaching Myths & Misconceptions - Get the Facts!
What is tooth whitening?
Is the effect of teeth whitening permanent?
What can I do to maintain the whitened teeth?
Then, are there side effects that arise when whitening teeth?
Does tooth whitener damage tooth enamel?
Then, does the process favor this tooth damaging the tooth nerve?

Medical Video: Teeth Whitening / Bleaching Myths & Misconceptions - Get the Facts!

Most people assume that appearance is the main and very important thing, therefore they do not hesitate to spend enough money just to whiten their teeth. There have been many sellers of teeth whitening drugs stating that the product is effective for whitening teeth, whether it's in the form of toothpaste, strips, or even to a beauty clinic that provides teeth whitening services. But is tooth whitening safe? Or does it have a negative impact on health, especially oral health? The following are various things about the teeth whitening process.

What is tooth whitening?

Tooth whitening is believed to be able to brighten and make the teeth look brighter white than before. But actually, not all teeth can be whitened by teeth whitening. Yellowish teeth are easier to be brilliant white than brownish teeth. While teeth that were previously gray, purplish, or even bluish, it will be difficult to bleach with teeth whitening. Therefore, the use of teeth whitening products should be discussed with the dentist to get maximum results.

The results of tooth color obtained depend on each whitening product used. In addition, it depends also on the condition of the teeth, the stains on the teeth, the concentration of bleach used, the duration of the time, and the bleaching system used.

Is the effect of teeth whitening permanent?

The white color of your teeth will not last long if you consume a variety of foods or drinks that can affect the color of your teeth, such as coffee, tea, soda, sweet foods, and foods that contain acid. By eating these foods, your white teeth will not last more than one month. but if you can limit the food or drink, the white color on your teeth can last up to a year or even more.

What can I do to maintain the whitened teeth?

Here are tips that you can do to keep the white color of your teeth from changing again:

Avoid foods that can affect food or drinks that can leave stains on the teeth. If you are forced to consume drinks that can affect the color of your teeth, it is better to use a straw to avoid being exposed to your front teeth ...
Brushing your teeth shortly after consuming these foods or drinks
Maintain dental hygiene by always brushing your teeth at least twice a day and using dental floss - a kind of thin thread to clean between teeth at least once a day. Using toothpaste containing bleach or claiming to whiten teeth to clean stains on the surface of the teeth and prevent teeth from turning yellow. This can be done once a week or two.
Perform treatment and control to the dentist at least every 6 months. If you smoke or often consume drinks that can leave stains on your teeth, then control more often.

Then, are there side effects that arise when whitening teeth?

There are two side effects that often occur in people who take care to whiten teeth, ie the teeth become more sensitive and experience irritation to the walls of the mouth. Teeth become sensitive usually occur in the early stages of the teeth whitening process. While irritation in the mouth is the result of the teeth whitening process and occurs at the final stage. Both of these conditions only occur temporarily and will disappear between 1 and 3 days after completing treatment.

If your teeth become sensitive, then here are ways to reduce these symptoms by:

Brushing teeth using special toothpaste for sensitive teeth. This toothpaste usually contains potassium nitrate which can reduce tension in the nerve teeth.
Stop the bleach medication that is being used for 2 or 3 days, this aims to provide time for adaptation to the drugs used.
Use high fluoride products to help re-mineralize your teeth, and use this product 4 minutes before using whitening products.

Does tooth whitener damage tooth enamel?

Enamel is the outermost layer of teeth that protects teeth from various damage. Usually every tooth whitener contains carbamide peroxide which is a substance that can damage the enamel. However, tooth whitening given by a dentist is usually safe to use because it only contains 10% carbamide peroxide.

Then, does the process favor this tooth damaging the tooth nerve?

Until now there is no scientific evidence that states that the teeth whitening process has a long-term impact on the nerve teeth. A study of 4.5 to 7 years showed that the teeth whitening process requires a root canal treatment process to prevent various dental problems that might appear later on.