Teeth whitening is a great option for anyone who is not currently happy with the color of their smile. Teeth whitening provides dental patients with the ability to brighten their smile, which makes for overall better confidence in oneself. However, teeth whitening doesn't come without it's side effects. Luckily, they can easily be avoided with the right treatment. Here are the four common side effects of teeth whitening services:
- Uneven Whitening: Uneven whitening is a typical problem, but usually because the teeth are dirt before going through the process. This is why it's important to receive a dental cleaning before whitening the teeth. You should talk to your dentist about whether or not you need a more extensive cleaning process, as well to ensure that your teeth are going to be in the right condition for whitening. However, you may also find uneven whitening if your teeth are permanently discolored because of decay or trauma. Your dentist will be able to evaluate your teeth to determine whether or not this is the case.
- Sensitivity: Those who are prone to teeth sensitivity may find that teeth whitening makes it worse, especially if you are going to bleach your teeth or whitening with at-home whitening kits. If you suffer from sensitivity, the best thing to do is talk with your dentist who can help you find whitening options that are gentler for your teeth. They may also suggest limiting the number of sessions for teeth whitening so that your teeth are being over whitened.
- Gum Irritation: When you use teeth whitening kits at home, there is a much higher chance for gum irritation because the bleach can get onto the gums during the process. When you get professional teeth whitening done, your dentist is going to be sure that this doesn't happen by ensuring that the safe guards are properly put in place during the whitening process.
- Addiction: If you feel that you are becoming addicted to teeth whitening, it's important to talk with your dentist who can come up with an ideal whitening schedule for you. Over whitening can damage the enamel of your teeth, which leads to them being sensitive and not as strong as they once were, meaning they are more prone to decay.
When you know the four common side effects, you can be sure that you do what you need to in order to avoid these issues while still achieving a beautiful, white smile.