Consider The Dangers in Whitening Teeth

If you’ve decided it is time to get a brighter smile, chances are you’ve had questions about the potential dangers in whitening your teeth. There are certainly some things to consider, but the risk is not overwhelming by any stretch of the imagination.

Potential Dangers in Whitening Teeth

The main thing to beware of while considering the dangers in whitening teeth, is that for many people there is sensitivity of the gums and other mouth tissues. The chemicals that are used to whiten teeth are generally either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. Both of these are chemicals that can hurt your mouth tissues (particularly gums) if given the chance.

If you have the procedure done by a dentist, this particular one of the dangers in whitening your teeth does not go away. First of all, the dentist can and will take precautions that you can’t take for yourself. He or she will be able to make a mouth-guard for you that fits your teeth in a way that the chances of the chemical getting to your sensitive tissues is minimized.

While some home kits offer a mouth-guard, there is no way for them to fit your mouth as well as one that is custom made for you. So the mouth-guard will lesson the dangers in whitening your teeth somewhat – but be aware that the concentration of the chemical the dentist uses is much greater than any home kit. So that can be more irritating than the chemicals you can use at home.

Another of the potential dangers in whitening teeth is the fact that for many people, using the chemicals will make their teeth sensitive for some time after the treatment – generally they would usually more sensitive to hot and cold foods. This effect will vary from person to person, but it is important to be aware of it ahead of time. 

Another one of the risks or potential dangers in whitening teeth is that from ingesting the chemicals used to whiten teeth. The chemicals used (carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide) are not designed for ingestion, and they can cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, and other unpleasant symptoms if ingested.

Some studies have shown that the use of hydrogen peroxide for teeth whitening has been associated in 19 case studies with the development of tongue cancer. While this is not a statistically large sampling, it is a valid study to be aware of, if you are wondering about the dangers in whitening teeth.