Everyone wants a bright, white beautiful smile. This universal desire has supported a now multi-billion dollar teeth whitening industry. There are countless brands and methods available both through your dentist and over-the-counter. It can be difficult to know which methods are best for you. This blog will guide you through some important information about over-the-counter teeth whitening products.
How to Choose a Safe OTC Teeth Whitener
When it comes to over-the-counter whitening products, you can easily get lost in the sea of options at your local pharmacy or online. While we believe you will achieve safer and more effective teeth whitening through the use of professional products from your dentist, that is the topic of another article. For this article, we’ll discuss the important factors in over-the-counter teeth whitening. In order to choose a safe and effective over-the-counter product, you must look for two things.
ADA Seal of Acceptance
In order to ensure your safety, you should first search any product for the Seal of Acceptance from the American Dental Association. This seal confirms that the product has undergone testing for safety, and the product will not harm your oral health in any way.
The Seal of Acceptance is especially important for whitening toothpastes. Whitening toothpastes function to polish away superficial stains on the teeth with abrasive particles. It is possible for this abrasiveness to physically remove enamel from the teeth, which is bad. Whitening toothpastes with the ADA Seal of Acceptance have proven that they will not remove enamel.
The Right Active Ingredient
In order to ensure a true teeth whitening, the whitening product must contain hydrogen peroxide or its close relative carbamide peroxide as the active ingredient. (This does not apply to whitening toothpastes). These peroxides are the only known chemicals capable of penetrating enamel and breaking down pigmented compounds in the teeth. Without a peroxide ingredient, you cannot expect to see any noticeable whitening results.
Potential Side Effects of OTC Whitening
Any time we use chemicals to make changes to the body, we risk potential side effects, and the same is true for teeth whitening. You should be aware of the following possibilities when you begin using over-the-counter whiteners. While some of these can also apply to professional whitening, the risk is much lower due to the dentist’s oversight and intervention when needed.
Lack of Effectiveness
Even if you choose a product with the right active ingredient, you may not achieve noticeable results with over-the-counter whiteners. The problem typically lies with the method of application. Because OTC products must, by nature, be one-size-fits-all, they do not achieve intimate contact between the active ingredient and the enamel as a professional product does.
Large, generic mouthpieces to apply whitening gels to the teeth often allow the gel to pool in the bottom of the tray instead of maintaining contact with the visible surface of the teeth. Whitening pens are unable to keep the material on the teeth for the duration necessary to change the tooth’s color. The best over-the-counter application method is via whitening strip that closely adapts to the surface of the teeth.
Teeth Sensitivity
During any type of teeth whitening, the teeth may become sensitive to cold air, cold liquids, or even taking a deep breath. The good news is that this side effect is reversible when you stop the whitening process. You can address sensitive teeth by interrupting your whitening process instead of performing it every day. You can also add the use of an anti-sensitivity toothpaste like Sensodyne.
If you are unable to achieve the color change you desire due to sensitivity of your teeth, speak to your dentist. Many professional products contain additional ingredients to fight sensitivity and strengthen the teeth during the whitening process.
Gum Irritation
The good news about the peroxide active ingredient is that it absolutely does whiten the teeth. The bad news is that it irritates, or even burns, the gum tissues. Again, this is where method of application becomes very important. The best methods of applying peroxide chemicals to the teeth will keep them on the teeth and prevent them from touching the gums.
With over-the-counter products using carrier trays, people are often tempted to use too much whitening gel. This attempt is to ensure coverage over the entire tooth surface, but it often results in gel spilling over onto the gum tissues.
This side effect is also reversible when you stop whitening. It may take a day or two for the tender gum tissues to heal and return to normal.
More Questions about Teeth Whitening?
Call Rockland Dental Specialists today to schedule a consultation with our experts. We can answer any teeth whitening question you have and help you choose the method that is best for you.