Wisdom Teeth: Removal, Maintenance and Cavity Prevention

5 Costly Teeth Whitening Mistakes to Avoid

Are you new to teeth whitening? Then you need to be sure that you understand how teeth whitening works before you begin. Just one costly mistake could damage your teeth and gums and leave you needing much more than just teeth whitening.

If you plan to whiten your teeth, then be sure to avoid making the following costly mistakes.

1. Using whitening toothpaste every day

Whitening toothpaste is useful for removing surface stains on teeth, like tobacco stains or coffee stains. But whitening toothpaste should not take the place of a traditional tooth whitening procedure. If you use whitening toothpaste every day, the abrasiveness of the toothpaste will wear away the enamel surface of your teeth.

This will weaken your teeth, leaving them susceptible to tooth decay and sensitivity.

2. Skipping a dental checkup before whitening your teeth

Whitening your teeth without having a dentist check your teeth first is taking a big risk. For instance, if you have tooth decay and you then whiten your teeth, the hydrogen peroxide bleach will enter the cavity and could kill the affected tooth. And if you have gum disease, whitening is not advisable, as this can make the condition worse.

You need a dentist to check for any oral problems before you whiten your teeth.

3. Using over-the-counter whitening trays

Over-the-counter whitening trays are a big gamble when it comes to the way they fit. Most of the time, OTC (over-the-counter) trays will be a poor fit. This will increase the possibility that the whitening gel could spill over and burn your gum tissue.

4. Whitening your teeth too often

Your teeth need time to recover between whitening sessions. If you whiten your teeth too often with whitening trays and strips, you'll damage your teeth and your gums.  

5. Trying to whiten dental restorations like crowns or veneers

You can't whiten porcelain dental restorations like crowns or veneers no matter how much you try. You'll need a dentist to remove your restorations before you whiten your teeth. You can't whiten restorations. This means that you might end up with teeth that are whiter than your restorations.

Have a dentist remove your restorations, then whiten your teeth. Once you have whitened your teeth, your dentist can make new restorations that match your newly whitened teeth.

The safest and most effective way to whiten your teeth is with the help of a dentist. A dentist will ensure that your teeth are white as well as undamaged after your whitening treatment.


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