Everyone wants to see your beautiful grin, but it can be hard to show off that signature smile if it isn’t as white as you’d like. At-home teeth whitening is very popular right now, but there are better ways to enhance your smile. If used improperly, these products can actually damage your oral health. It can be especially harmful to use such products on teeth that might already have some issues, so coupling cavities and teeth whitening is a surefire route to your dentist’s office. Here are some of the consequences of over-the-counter whitening products and how your dentist can help.
How Whitening Products Impact Your Smile
There are a number of teeth whitening treatments readily available to you, including whitening strips, toothpaste, or trays. Although they aren’t anywhere near as effective as professional treatments, they are certainly convenient and cheaper. However, if you have ever experienced tooth decay or cavities, whitening your teeth with these products might do you more harm than good.
Cavities and whitening gels do not mix! The bleach in whitening products is mostly hydrogen peroxide, a chemical that can weaken your enamel and irritate your nerve endings, causing increased tooth sensitivity, discomfort, and pain. To prevent that from happening, talk to your dentist first – they can help protect your smile!
What Can I Do If I Still Want White Teeth?
Having tooth decay or cavities doesn’t mean you can’t whiten your teeth! It simply means the best course of action is asking your dentist to address the cavities and decay before proceeding with your whitening journey!
Consulting a dentist prior to using any products is the safest thing to do for your oral health. Asking if your teeth are healthy enough to use certain treatments ensures the end result will be a healthy and beautiful smile. Some treatments that might help you are fillings, composite bonding, crowns, and root canal therapy. One thing to note is that any crowns you might have will not change color with teeth whitening, so if you have a crown in an obvious place, the best option may be replacing it with a new one.
In addition to over-the-counter products, another option to consider is professional whitening. The expert care of a professional is an effective way to remove discoloration and staining that might be caused by aging or dark beverages. A single whitening session can give you a smile ten shades brighter. That means you can achieve your dream smile in just one visit!
About the Practice
For Dr. Ashley Strickland and Dr. Jason Carlyon, patient comfort and oral health are of the utmost importance. At Buda Dental Professionals, they prioritize providing high-quality, comprehensive dental services and fostering patient relationships. If you are interested in learning more about professional teeth whitening, you can reach the Buda Dental Professionals team through their website or by phone at (512) 295-5555.