Who doesn’t want to possess a gleaming white and wide smile? White teeth not only make you look attractive but also make you look healthy and hygienic. A pearly white smile can captivate the attention of all and draw the crowd towards you.
In this blooming age of appearances, where looks matter the most, a shimmering white smile is a must have. No wonder cosmetic dentistry and teeth whitening solutions abound everywhere. From one hour bleaching sessions at your dentist to home based bleaching kits, from effective but expensive laser treatment to cheap whitening toothpastes; you can have whiter teeth from whichever treatment that suits your budget and time.
Although teeth whitening solutions do produce substantial to moderate results, they are not devoid of harmful side effects. Following are the possible side effects from teeth whitening procedures:
- Teeth sensitivity: Whether you use a store-bought tray, a whitening strip, or get tooth whitening at a dentist’s clinic, the chemical used in all the three methods is the same hydrogen peroxide, which is known to cause sensitivity in teeth to heat and cold.
- Gum irritation: The bleaching agents used for teeth whitening are caustic in nature and can be irritating to the soft tissues of the mouth like gums and tongue.
- Enamel erosion: Using over the counter whitening toothpaste is not a bad idea as long as you don’t over do it. Caution must be taken while using these toothpastes as they contain harsh abrasives such as silica and aluminum oxide which can erode the natural enamel of the tooth.
Fading whiteness overtime: Another flip side of teeth whitening procedures like laser treatment and zoom bleaching is that, the cost of the treatment is quite expensive but the results are not permanent. Overtime the beautiful whiteness you have achieved fades and sometimes the teeth become even more discolored than before treatment.