How Whitening Items May Be More Dangerous Than Helpful

By Author: Eric Blair
Total Articles: 5
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Every day, hundreds of ads strive to persuade would-be clients about the powers whitening products can have on yellow, discolored teeth. While many of these items will display visible signs of a whiter smile, a number have known side effects that can ruin teeth, gums and can even cause cancer. Of course, these products do improve the shade of your teeth by a couple of notches, but some professionals do not understand how some of these over-the-counter remedies work in improving a smile.

Hydrogen-Peroxide Based Mouthwash

Every whitening solution on the market today will use some concentration of hydrogen peroxide to help brighten teeth. Known to take away stains, the weak acid chemical is widely used by medical professionals to help whiten your teeth. The chemical can be used in whitening mouthwashes, and since most local pharmacies will sell the solution, buyers will order the item and make a home remedy out of it to brighten their teeth. However, hydrogen peroxide can create gum irritation, remove enamel and leave teeth feeling oversensitive to hot and cold beverages and foods, which is why prolonged use of the ...
... chemical is not ideal. Most hydrogen peroxide mouthwashes do require extended use for results to be seen, meaning people will use the item almost every day to fight off stains.

Whitening Paste and Gels

Compared to using hydrogen peroxide solution as a mouthwash, whitening paste and gels lend a safer method for whitening teeth; however, it is not as safe as visiting a dentist, such as a Sherman Oaks professional teeth whitening doctor. The hydrogen peroxide inside many of these pastes and gels is a bit more diluted than regular mouthwashes, making it less dangerous to use. As with mouthwash, gel and paste solutions require lengthy use to display improvements, and extended application processes can cause gum irritation for some, especially when using whitening strips with hydrogen peroxide gel inside of them. Another known side effect of heavy use of these products can be vomiting and nausea if swallowed in high amounts.

Georgetown University conducted a study on 19 individuals who used whitening items and discovered that those with tongue cancer had used whitening products for a prolonged period of time. If you do decide to use whitening products, be wary of how much you apply and for how long you apply it, although it might just be better to go to a specialist, like a Sherman Oaks teeth whitening dentist. Trained dentists will use dental dams to steer clear of gum irritation while putting on just enough gel to ensure your teeth get whiter.