Although children's teeth are not exposed to many of the key staining agents that adults are, such as coffee or tobacco, they can still develop discolored teeth through products such as juices, sodas or candies, as well as from iron if they are taking a multivitamin or supplement containing iron metal salts. When discoloring occurs, many parents may be tempted to allow their kids to use whitening strips. However, before using these products on your child, it's important to understand more about the products before continuing.
History
For decades the only way to whiten teeth outside of regular preventive dental care was taking a trip to your dentist's office. However, this changed with the introduction of whitening strips by Proctor and Gamble's Crest brand in 2000. Since their introduction, many other dental hygiene companies have come up with their own whitening products to compete with the original whitening strips.
Function
Teeth whitening strips work on both children's and adult teeth by using a hydrogen peroxide bleaching agent. The hydrogen peroxide is applied to one side of thin strips of polyethylene plastic which are shaped to fit generally over both the top and bottom layers of teeth. The hydrogen peroxide solution has a gel-like consistency which helps hold the strips against the teeth. This keeps a constant contact of the bleaching agent against the outer layer of your teeth, bleaching them out to a whiter color.
Considerations for Children
When using whitening strips on children, the American Dental Association suggests moving forward with caution to avoid potential side effects. For example, the ADA recommends waiting until after all of the permanent teeth have erupted before trying to bleach them. It is also recommended that bleaching trays be used instead of bleaching strips, as with a tray you can better control how much hydrogen peroxide is used and comes into contact with the child's teeth.
Side Effects
Common side effects that your child may experience when using bleaching strips include tooth sensitivity and soft tissue irritation, especially on the gums. Tooth sensitivity typically occurs more early on in the bleaching process, while tissue irritation typically comes from not fitting the bleaching strips correctly on the teeth and getting too much of the bleaching agents on the gum tissue instead of the teeth.
Alternatives
Instead of using teeth bleaching strips for your child you may want to consider other possible options. For example, a bleaching tray as mentioned above allows you to better control how much peroxide your child is being exposed to. Preventative measures, such as having your child brush and floss after meals -- or at least brush in the morning and before going to bed at night -- can prevent the buildup of material that can cause teeth to become discolored.
References
- American Dental Association: Tooth Whitening/Bleaching - Treatment Considerations for Dentists and Their Patients
- Animated Teeth: Using Teeth Whitening Strips
- DentalResource.org: Pediatric Dental Health
- American Dental Association: Statement on the Safety and Effectiveness of Tooth Whitening Products
