Healthy Fluids

The answer is yes as most procedures of any kind come with some inherent drawbacks . Generally, there are risks involved, but they are mild and will not hamper your attempts to get a white smile. . As with any procedure you have done, you will want to be aware of what the potential risks are when you do go to choose a whitening method. More information is available here.

Mild to severe risks of teeth whitening are as follows. The risks of any teeth whiteners are that they may not work for you at all. This is most likely going to be the case only if you have had bonding done or you have white-colored fillings which have been placed in the front of your smile. Whiteners will not change the color of these, so if you try traditional whitening methods you will be disappointed. Even professional-grade treatments will not work, so your best option is to consult with a dentist to determine if you should get porcelain veneers or additional bonding done instead.

As for the more serious risks, you could encounter severe sensitivity to your teeth. Dentists are finding this problem more often with their patients who, after several whitening treatments for sustained periods, return to them to report shooting pains occurring in their mouth. These pains can be very uncomfortable, but will clear up after discontinuing the bleaching. There are instances where that pain can be severe enough to send a person to their dentist immediately. If the bleaching affected a cavity or a cracked tooth, it could mean a person requires an immediate root canal to cure the problem. While developments are always underway to counteract the sensitivity to teeth brought on by bleaching products, there is still a chance that you could experience such pain in your teeth after undergoing any whitening procedure.

One way to cut down on the chances of this occurring to you when you go for a whitening method is to first choose your dentists professional methods over store-bought tooth whitening products. Most professional bleaching methods are done in conjunction with specially formulated sensitivity-preventing products. While over-the-counter products are very safe to use, they do not come with the same degree of sensitivity prevention as those your dentist uses. Besides this, it is usually a good idea to consult with your dentist before choosing any type of whitening method because he or she will know what is best suited for you. Other more severe risks associated with tooth whitening include irritation to your gums or an uneven whitening or bluish discoloration to your enamel. These problems will often clear up on their own within a few weeks, but you have to discontinue using the whitening products for this to happen.

One risk that is very slight, if it exists at all, is that whiteners will damage tooth enamel. When you put your treatment into the hands of your dentist, it is highly unlikely that this will happen. If you use a whitening toothpaste or gel on your own, you could damage the enamel if you brush too hard or use too much of the product too often. As with anything, moderation is the biggest key to avoiding the risks that are associated with bleaching and whitening. Some people have been prone to over-whitening their teeth using dental procedures and over-the-counter procedures. When this occurs, the risks outlined above are more likely to apply and are more likely to be on the severe side rather than the mild side. Most all whiteners come with risks, but they are low if they exist at all. Speak with your dentist to find out which tooth whitening method is best for you.