Everyone loves the magical whitening of our teeth after bleaching. Unfortunately, various myths are circulating regarding their safety and efficacy. This text aims at providing answers to commonly occurring myths about dental bleaching.
Myth 1: Domestic Tooth Bleaching Is Not Safe
This is not true. In fact, the American Dental Association states that all of the tooth whitening products available for domestic use are safe. Despite their safety, the manufacturer’s instructions regarding their use must be carefully adhered to, otherwise there are chances of damage to the oral structures. Properly fitting trays must be used, in addition to bleaching only for the recommended time duration.
Myth 2: Tooth Whitening Lasts Forever
Nothing lasts forever, including the effects of tooth whitening. The whitening effects of bleaching agents generally last for about 6 months, after which the teeth tend to revert back to their stained state. The good news is that these products are not that expensive, and you can bleach your teeth again if you feel the need, or you can visit your dentist for in-office bleaching.
Myth 3: Whitening Toothpastes Have Action Similar To the Bleaching Agents
Most whitening toothpastes tend to whiten the teeth because of the presence of abrasive agents within them. Some manufacturers also add polishing agents to give a shiny appearance to the teeth after brushing. However, very few of them actually contain chemical bleaching agents.
Myth 4: Tooth Whitening Can Cause Oral Cancer
While the chemical agents, present in tooth bleaching agents, could lead to precancerous conditions, the quantity and duration of application within the oral cavity is not sufficient to cause oral cancers. Furthermore, various studies have been conducted, which state that the bleaching agents present in the whitening agents do not possess the potential to cause any oral cancerous activity.
Myth 5: Tooth Bleaching Can Also Remove Intrinsic Tooth Stains
Intrinsic tooth stains occur as a result of bleeding within the teeth, usually caused by traumatic dental injury. The tooth whitening agents are applied to the surface of the teeth, and hence can only remove extrinsic stains. For the removal of intrinsic stains, the bleaching is performed during the root canal treatment when the pulp is removed and the root canal is washed clean.
Myth 6: Intrinsic Tooth Bleaching Can Cause Damage to the Pulpal Nerves
This statement is partially correct. While the currently available root canal bleaching agents are safe and carry minimal potential for nerve damage, disregarding the manufacturer’s recommendation regarding quantity to be used or the duration of application, may result in pulpal nerve damage.
Myth 7: Tooth Bleaching Agents Cause Even Tooth Whitening
This is not true. While less heavily stained teeth are bleached more quickly, heavily stained teeth require longer duration to achieve the desirable results. Hence, chances always exist that tooth whitening may not be carried out evenly on all the teeth, and duration of tooth bleaching should always be controlled according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Professional Help Can Make a Difference
While some people feel comfortable using a domestic tooth whitening kit, others may require some answered questions (even more than above) and a professional dentist or dental assistant to apply this type of teeth whitening. Some bonuses to having our staff aid you in the process of getting your teeth as beautiful as can be is our experience and the higher quality of product we use. So feel free to give us a call to schedule an appointment so we can discuss what’s best for your needs.
Emergency
Patient Forms
Contact Us