DIY teeth whitening may seem like an inexpensive alternative to professional teeth whitening, but it can have its risks. There are many DIY teeth whitening methods that you can use at home, but it’s important to be aware of the potential problems that can arise with these methods. From over-bleaching to actual enamel damage, there are many risks to bleaching your teeth without the help of a dental professional.
Easy to Over-Bleach
Over-bleaching is a condition that can occur when you overexpose your teeth to the harsh chemical agents that bleach the enamel. When teeth whitening is done in the office, your dentist can monitor your teeth whitening activities and deliver just enough whitening agents to reach the perfect level of whiteness for your teeth.
When you’re whitening your teeth on your own, it may be much harder to determine how much whitening is too much whitening. Overexposure to whitening agents can lead to problems like gum recession, tooth sensitivity (permanent or temporary), and brittle tooth enamel. Ultimately, your teeth could break because of prolonged exposure to tooth enamel.
Can Result in Enamel Damage
There are many tools that people use to whiten their teeth at home, including materials found in a typical kitchen, like lemon juice and baking soda. Both of these materials can soften or erode your tooth enamel over time, resulting in long-lasting or permanent damage to your teeth. Many people do this without even realizing that they’ve created a problem for themselves because they aren’t doing it under the supervision and guidance of their dentist.
Results Are Fleeting and Not As Effective
Unfortunately, tooth whitening done at home often doesn’t last as long as tooth whitening performed in a professional dental office. When you visit the dentist to have your teeth whitened, the effects last longer.
In addition, whitening done at home often isn’t as effective as whitening performed in the dental office. This is because the tools and kits that people have access to at home often aren’t as good as the tools available at the dentist’s office.
May Need to Invest in Corrective Treatment
When you whiten your teeth at home, depending on the kind of damage that is done, you may need to invest in corrective treatment. This could mean repairing a broken tooth that has chipped after becoming brittle, or it could mean installing a crown over your tooth that has lost tooth enamel over time. Investing in corrective treatment can fix the problem, but who wants to pay to have damage done to their teeth?
Want Your Teeth Whitened in Tampa? Contact Weninger Dentistry.
At Weninger Dentistry, we can whiten your teeth professionally. The long-lasting results of our dental whitening process can help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted.
Want to know more about how our teeth whitening process can benefit you? Contact us today to make an appointment for whitening, or call to get answers to your questions about professional teeth whitening in Tampa.