Your teeth give the first impression as people notice you smile first. Therefore, when you discover that you are self-conscious of your smile and are too shy to speak or laugh in public, it means they are stained or yellowish. Do not be afraid because many people suffer from the same problem. Thankfully, teeth whitening can help correct the flaws in your teeth, giving you a pearly white smile.
There are several bleaching or whitening treatments and products depending on your budget, the timeframe within which you want the changes, and your temperament. You can bleach the teeth in-house with the help of a professional, using over-the-counter products or take-home kits. However, even though teeth whitening is deemed safe and non-invasive when you follow instructions, it can have severe side effects when done incorrectly. The common whitening mistakes, their side effects, and how to avoid these complications are discussed below.
Extreme Use of Whitening Products with High Hydrogen Peroxide Content
Cosmetic dentists recommend using hydrogen peroxide to bleach teeth because of the chemical's natural bleaching agents that can quickly give you the white teeth you seek. Hydrogen peroxide is also recommended because it kills harmful bacteria in the mouth, lowering the risk of oral infections, and this explains why it is used to treat wounds.
Many teeth-whitening products contain hydrogen peroxide as a component. The higher the chemical concentration in these products, like toothpaste, the more effective the product is in whitening teeth. Toothpaste with a high hydrogen peroxide content bleaches teeth faster. Unfortunately, you could be tempted to excessively use bleaching products with this ingredient for faster results. Even if you achieve the results faster, the high concentration causes gum tissue irritation and increases the risk of developing cancer.
So, when using hydrogen peroxide products, do not rush the results you anticipate by using high-concentration products. Instead, use bleaching products with low concentrations to avoid hurting the gums. Also, utilize a mouthwash before brushing with hydrogen peroxide toothpastes. The results could take time, but you will avoid the severe side effects.
Do Not Overuse Whitening Strips
Another common way to whiten teeth is by using strips. These are tiny, elastic membranes that mimic the shape of your teeth. They contain a layer or coating of bleaching products that, when you wear them, contact your tooth enamel, removing the stains or discoloration. Many people use strips because they are affordable and the results are first. For instance, if you are planning a wedding and you know there will be a lot of smiling in front of cameras, wearing whitening strips can give you the white teeth you want.
Strips are easy to use as you slap them on the bottom and upper teeth for the duration directed by the manufacturer. Sadly, many people who utilize these strips do not check the manufacturer's instructions and end up wearing them for a longer period than recommended. You forget that these are chemicals you are interacting with. Wearing the strips past the provided duration will wear the enamel, exposing the dentin, which makes your teeth turn yellowish instead of the pearly white you were aiming for. Besides the erosion of the enamel, you will experience sensitivity to temperature, touch, and pressure.
You can avoid these complications by buying the whitening strips from your dental office for instructions on using them. Also, you can purchase them over-the-counter, but visit the dentist to explain how to wear them for maximum results and minimal complications.
Strips do not cause pain; therefore, when you begin experiencing pain, suspend their use and consult with your dentist.
Treating Teeth Whitening as a One-Day Event
Teeth whitening, in-house or at home, must be done continuously. Even if a cosmetic dentist does the whitening, the pearly white color is likely to fade after some time. Therefore, to maintain the results, you must continue maintenance whitening. If you neglect the teeth, the white shade will fade away, and the beautiful smile will be lost. Therefore, speak to your dentist to learn ways of maintaining the pearly white teeth, including continuous bleaching after a given duration.
Using Activated Charcoal While Having a Wound in the Mouth
If you are working with a small budget and want an effective way to brighten teeth, cosmetic dentists recommend activated charcoal. The product is cheap and easily accessible. It whitens teeth by pulling toxins and stains from the teeth. Plaque and tartar accumulation are the primary causes of tooth staining and discoloration. Luckily, powdered charcoal absorbs these layers of debris, making your teeth pearly, preventing bacteria growth, and removing mouth odor.
You brighten teeth with charcoal by crushing the activated charcoal pill to turn it into powder form. The next step involves dipping your brush in water and rubbing it against the powdered charcoal. When the powder sticks to the brush, you use it to brush the teeth.
The common mistake people make when using this whitening product is to rinse the teeth right after brushing. Doing so washes away the charcoal. Hence, no whitening happens. The best approach is to wait four or more minutes for the charcoal to absorb calculus before rinsing. If you do this for a few days, you will achieve the white shade you seek.
Another mistake people make when using charcoal is brushing when they have cuts or open bruises in the mouth. The charcoal particles can bruise the wound or cut, causing pain or bleeding. Besides, do not brush the teeth so hard as the charcoal could erode the tooth enamel, causing sensitivity or the teeth to turn yellow after dentin exposure.
Incorrect Use of Whitening Trays
The whitening trays you buy in stores or online to whiten teeth are effective. Unfortunately, many are ill-fitting, and this could cause complications. These trays contain bleaching gel with high concentrations of peroxide. When they fit perfectly, the gel only comes into contact with the enamel, removing the discoloration. However, when you purchase trays that do not fit well in the mouth, the gel spills out to the gums, causing complications like gum irritation, redness, or inflammation. Worse, after the given duration, you will not achieve the desired results because the enamel did not have sufficient contact with the bleaching gel as required.
Avoid ill-fitting trays by visiting your cosmetic dentist to make an impression of your teeth and fabricate trays that are a perfect fit for your teeth. That way, there will be no gel spills, and the teeth will have sufficient contact with the bleaching agent, giving you the white shade you want within the timeline provided for these whitening devices.
Ignoring Medical Conditions
You should not whiten your teeth when pregnant. Sadly, many people make this mistake by prioritizing their smiles over well-being. The hormonal changes you experience while pregnant increase the blood flow to the gums, increasing the risk of bleeding or inflammation. If you bleach your teeth at this time and the bleaching agents touch the already sensitive gums, you could exacerbate the inflammation, sensitivity, or bleeding. Therefore, when pregnant, whitening can always wait until you deliver your baby.
Additionally, if you are not pregnant but experience tooth sensitivity, you should speak to your cosmetic dentist for an oral evaluation before proceeding with the treatment. The dentist is likely to recommend in-house whitening, where they will use special tools and their skills so as not to worsen the sensitivity.
Not Brushing or Flossing Teeth Before Bleaching
Teeth bleaching or whitening is not a substitute to maintain proper oral hygiene. So, when utilizing whitening strips or trays, it is crucial to brush and floss your teeth to eliminate wall debris, plaque, and calculus that are lodged in the teeth. These layers prevent proper contact of the whitening gel with the enamel, limiting your results. Even though you will achieve some brightness, it will not be better than the person who brushes their teeth before the strips.
The issue of not cleaning teeth before whitening is a matter of not knowing or following instructions. Therefore, if you are unsure of what to do, speak to your dentist for guidance or to perform the whitening. When you do the bleaching in-house, the dentist will begin by thorough cleaning and scaling the teeth to remove all tartar and debris. With no barriers between the bleaching gel and whitening strips or trays, you will achieve optimal results.
Not Maintaining A Balanced Diet
After teeth whitening, especially if the procedure is performed in-house, follow your dentist’s post-procedure instructions, especially those emphasizing maintaining a balanced diet, and avoid certain foods. Your dentist discourages you from consuming red wine, cola, tea, coffee, oranges, or carrots within 24 hours of the whitening to avoid staining the teeth.
Similarly, acid foods and beverages after teeth bleaching can be harmful to the teeth as they increase the risk of gum irritation and tooth sensitivity. Acids could also further erode the enamel, exposing the dentin. If this happens, the teeth turn yellowish, reversing the results that you had already attained.
Avoid these foods and beverages completely and instead opt for a balanced diet that further promotes teeth whitening. If you balance the nutrients in your food and beverages, your body will have the minerals necessary to promote healthy and pearly enamel.
After whitening, your cosmetic dentist will encourage you to chew crispy raw veggies and fruits like apples because they increase saliva production, which washes away the hazardous germs in the mouth. With little or no harmful bacteria in the mouth, the risk of tooth discoloration is minimal.
Mixing strawberries or pineapples with baking soda and water can further help with teeth bleaching. Strawberries contain malic acid that eliminates stains in the teeth, while baking soda helps keep stains at bay. So, when you combine the two, you will maintain a pearly shade on your teeth for a long time. The right way to use this mixture for maximum results is to crush the strawberries, combine them with baking soda, and use the mixture to brush your teeth. However, do not utilize this combination daily because you could end up hurting the tooth enamel.
A strong enamel is crucial in keeping a white shade on the teeth. When you have weak enamel, the yellowish shade of the dentin will be exposed, causing the teeth to look yellow. Therefore, to maintain white teeth after whitening, you want to strengthen your dentin by consuming diets rich in calcium, like milk. The calcium removes the harmful acids that eat away the enamel, preventing the exposure of dentin.
Drinking sufficient water is also part of maintaining a healthy diet. Drinking sufficient water after consuming staining foods and beverages washes away food debris from the mouth, preventing plaque buildup. Water also removes the staining elements in deep-color beverages, promoting healthy teeth.
Overlooking Good Oral Hygiene
Several factors contribute to teeth staining, including aging, eating habits, grinding, smoking, and taking certain medications. Of these factors, poor oral hygiene is the leading cause of tooth discoloration. So, even if you whiten your teeth today but fail to maintain proper dental hygiene, the gains you have made will be eroded, and you will be back to where you started.
So, if you want to maintain healthy white teeth, proper oral hygiene, brushing for at least two minutes twice a day and flossing teeth, is necessary.
Brushing does not remove tartar in the mouth, which is a major contributor to staining. Therefore, in addition to routine brushing, you should consider scheduling an appointment for an oral examination and cleaning every six months with your dentist. In these sessions, the calculus and plaque that cannot be removed through brushing will be removed utilizing unique dental tools.
Furthermore, when brushing, do not forget the tongue because germs could accumulate in this section of the mouth, spreading to the teeth and causing discoloration. Therefore, even after whitening, keep your teeth clean through proper oral hygiene, and you will enjoy a pearly smile longer.
Find a Proficient Teeth Whitening Cosmetic Dentist Near Me
Teeth whitening or bleaching does wonders when done properly. The treatment is prevalent because it is easy, non-invasive, and affordable, and the results are substantial. However, when done wrongly, whitening can have adverse effects. So, do not be impulsive about whitening. First, speak to your Encino dentist for guidance on the best products or the right bleaching option based on the condition of your teeth and overall health. At the Lasting Impressions Dental Spa, we will guide you through the procedure to avoid complications and ensure the best outcome. Call us at 818-751-5100 for more information on teeth bleaching.
