Tooth whitening has become a popular pastime, with people trying everything from over-the-counter whitening trays to expensive dental treatments in the dentist's office. While the cosmetic effect may be impressive, there are negative side effects that should be considered before venturing into the teeth-whitening arena.
Too White
Custom trays designed by a dentist to fit over the teeth are commonly used by people to take home. Patients apply the hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide for a specific time limit and the results are monitored by the dentist to make sure the patient does not over bleach. The American Dental Association reports that professionals are realizing that patients soon discover that the same ingredients are available in the drugstore in over-the-counter products and continue with the whitening process beyond the recommended levels. As a result, patients have some teeth that are too white and do not match crowns or other dental restorations, and end up with an unnatural appearance. The National Center for Biotechnology Institute has performed numerous studies on the effects of both peroxides on the dentin and enamel that make up the tooth structure and have found no serious problems with any prescribed or over-the-counter tooth whitening treatments.
Sensitivity
Dentists often employ a whitening procedure in the office that utilizes stronger applications of peroxide and produces a quick whitening effect. Sensitivity on the gum and surrounding tissue can be a side effect of this in-office treatment. Dentists continue to experience frustration with patients who follow the in-office treatment with additional home whitening products and complain of uneven coloring and tooth sensitivity. In an effort to get whiter teeth faster, users of whitening products often believe that the more they whiten and the longer they leave the peroxide in place, the whiter their teeth will be. After the teeth become so glaringly unnatural and patients return to the dentist with sensitive gums looking for a reversal, dentists can only tell their patients to wait. Teeth will return to their natural color within a year of terminating whitening use.
Pain
In rare cases, patients experience tooth pain following a treatment of tooth whitening peroxide components. There are a number of explanations for this phenomenon, none of which is entirely predictable, though a thorough dental exam prior to whitening may help to alleviate any negative effects. If there is an exposed nerve that the dentist has not covered with a filling, root canal or crown, the nerve may become inflamed and cause moderate tooth pain. Teeth dry out during the whitening process, which causes a dehydration of the tooth that can continue in some patients for several days. When tooth whitening is performed in a dental office, a light is sometimes used to speed up the drying process. Those with very sensitive gums may feel some discomfort during this process, though the intensity of the bulbs used has been greatly reduced over the years in response to the pain levels reported by patients.
