Is Teeth Whitening Safe? Sensitivity and Other Side Effects
Worry about whitening usually comes down to two questions: will it hurt, and will it harm my teeth? Neither one has a single-word answer. What follows covers side effects, what a dentist can tell you about the discoloration itself, and how whitening products work.
The broad answer first
Overall, teeth whitening is considered safe (Cleveland Clinic). The sections below cover the side effects.
What side effects can whitening cause?
Some people who use teeth whiteners may experience tooth sensitivity, and in most cases the sensitivity is temporary. Overuse of whiteners can damage the tooth enamel or gums (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).
It is very common to experience temporary sensitivity in your teeth or irritation to the gums after you start using a whitening product, and both of those tend to go away pretty quickly (Cleveland Clinic).
What a dentist can tell you about discoloration
A dentist can help you determine why your teeth might look a little discolored, and this is important because bleaching products work best on teeth that have yellowed with age or through staining by food or drinks. Brown or gray discoloration could signal problems that a bleaching kit won't fix, and tackling concerns like gum disease or cavities before starting a bleaching treatment is also important (Cleveland Clinic).
How whitening products work
If you are wondering what is actually going on, whitening products contain one of two tooth bleaches, hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, and these bleaches break stains into smaller pieces, which makes the color less concentrated and your teeth brighter (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).
If you are weighing it up
A companion article on this site covers teeth whitening options rather than safety, and there is also our teeth whitening page.
Our office is at 147 Main St, 2nd Floor, Lodi, NJ 07644, and Dr. Steven Liao is our dentist. If you are new here, see our first-visit page.
Sources
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). "Teeth Whitening." https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/teeth-whitening
- Cleveland Clinic. "Are Teeth Whiteners Safe and Worth Trying?" https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-teeth-whitening-safe
