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Safe and Effective Teeth Whitening?

In the quest for beauty, many people are choosing to have their teeth whitened by the dentists or with home whitening products.

Since about 1989, professional and home teeth whitening methods have increased in popularity. Medical and consumer health awareness groups have paid much attention to the safety and effectiveness of whitening products. These processes have received generally positive reports in both areas of effectiveness and consumer safety.

There are several issues that you should keep in mind when considering teeth whitening:

Both medical and consumer communities have raised some concerns about the risks involved with bleaching. Some bleaching agents may pose cancer-causing risks.

On the other hand, studies have demonstrated that the concentration of carbamide peroxide in teeth whitening is no believed to cause cancers of the gums or mouth tissue. There is a natural agent present in human saliva that seems to offset the amount of peroxide given off by the teeth whitening agents.

Consideration and attention has also been given to the fear of bleaching agents causing a tooth's enamel to wear off or be damaged. After careful study, the medical experts now say that more damage is done to a tooth's enamel by soft drinks or fruit juices than tooth whitening bleach.

Studies are underway to assess the affects of teeth whitening processes on nerve endings. These studies are still in the early stages, as the long-term effects are only present five to eight years after the whitening procedure. Despite concerns, checkups from five to eight years following tooth whitening have shown relatively little damage.

While it isn't possible to have teeth whitening done if you have caps or crowns on your teeth it is possible to undergo the procedure if you have had simple fillings or root canal procedures. So far the dental histories have not shown any problems from this procedure, but studies are still in their infancy.

The studies mentioned above are accurate and valid, but it's always best to seek the advice of a dental health professional.

Every patient has a unique dental history, so what works for some people may not be the best choice for you. Even the most perfect smile isn't worth posing risks to your health.