People have used various methods to whiten their smiles for thousands of years, and some techniques produce better results than others. You might go to the store today and find products on the shelves that claim to be able to significantly whiten their users’ smiles, and some of them even have glowing reviews from social media influencers. No store-bought teeth whitening kit has been approved by the American Dental Association, and these products can lead to injury or adverse side effects. Here are some possible unfortunate outcomes of these products and why professional treatments are the way to go.
What Are the Risks of Store-Bought Teeth Whitening Kits?
Your typical store-bought teeth whitening kit includes non-professional-grade whitening gel and a set of supposedly one-size-fits-all dental trays. Unfortunately, these trays don’t fit everyone properly. If your teeth are too big for them, they may not cover them sufficiently, leading to your teeth being unevenly whitened. If your teeth are too small, these trays can expose your gums to the whitening agent, which can lead to irritation. There have also been cases of the whitening gel causing injuries due to it being of poor quality.
If you have restorations such as dental bonds, fillings, crowns, or implants, these will not react to the whitening treatment like natural teeth. This can lead to a few teeth in the mouth being a different color than the rest of the smile. If you wear braces, the whitening treatment will not be able to treat the areas of the teeth that are covered by brackets, leading to spotty whitening.
If you have untreated cavities, applying whitening agents to your teeth can be exceedingly unpleasant. To get an idea of how this could work, imagine pouring your favorite brand of vinegar-based hot sauce into your open hand. While you might experience a vague tingly feeling, there won’t be any pain. However, if you do the same thing while you have broken skin across your palm, you’ll experience a burning sensation you probably won’t ever forget. Exposing a cavity to a whitening agent will have a miserably similar effect.
Why Are Teeth Whitening Kits from My Dentist Better?
Teeth whitening treatments from your dentist will not only produce superior, longer-lasting results but are much safer as well. Your dentist will thoroughly examine your mouth beforehand to confirm that you are a good candidate for the treatment, so you won’t have to worry about exposing any untreated cavities to the whitening agent.
Your dentist will provide you with a take-home kit that includes professional-grade whitening gel and customized dental trays. These trays are designed to fit their patient’s teeth perfectly, so you won’t have any problems with uneven whitening or exposing the gums to the gel. All you have to do is apply the gel to the trays and wear them for an hour every day for two weeks, and your smile will be whitened by up to ten shades!
About the Practice
Salmon Brook Dental Associates provides excellent dental care and personalized treatments to the community of Granby, CT. Led by Drs. Kenneth Endres and Gunveen Chawla, the staff is dedicated to exceeding expectations and delivering measurable results. Services include general, restorative, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry such as teeth whitening kits. For more information about professional teeth whitening treatments, contact the office online or dial (860) 653-4551.