Some people will do anything to have brighter teeth. Due to the glorification of sparkling smiles in media and celebrities’ Instagram profiles, they have become quite the fashion staple. In some cases, the fascination may turn into an addiction.
Since professional whitening may be costly, people settle for the financial comfort of do-it-yourself kits sold in beauty salons and stores. Whilst tempting, these illegal and unsafe whitening treatments are useless at best, and harmful at worst.
If you want to have whitening done, Fresh Dental London recommends going to a registered dental practice.
Dangers of illegal whitening
What’s bad about store-bought whitening kits is they do work. They whiten the teeth to some degree, deceiving people into using more. But behind the sparkly façade is a set of unhealthy, over-sensitised teeth. Chlorine dioxide, the same compound found in cheap teeth bleachers and swimming pools, may eat away at the enamel and lead to erosion and discolouration.
Some of these products use five times the prescribed amount of carbamide peroxide, a compound generally used in professional whitening. In other cases, the bleaching gel may leak and lead to painful chemical burns, while swallowing it may cause sickness.
Other myths on teeth whitening
Lemons were said to be effective agents against tooth discolouration and repeatedly used as a home remedy. Many dentists have dispelled this rumour. Too much application of citric acid unleashes a corrosive effect harsh enough to permanently damage the tooth. Likewise, the citric acid in strawberries reduces the strength of the teeth by up to 10%.
Dental care professionals advise against these DIY and backdoor remedies. The difference in safety and efficacy lies in the informed and proper application of the product, which the untrained may get wrong.
Adhering to protocols, coupled with state-of-the-art laser technology, dentists and dental hygienists are your reliable source of whitening solutions.
