Is teeth bleaching safe?
Due to the increase of over the counter teeth whitening products there is an increased fear among users that teeth bleaching may not actually be safe. This fear is often contributed to old techniques from the eighties that did in fact destroy enamel when used in excess. However, recent studies have shown that in current teeth whitening products although there may be slight, temporary, sensitivity side effects, for the most part, teeth whitening products only pose a threat if they are misused or if directions are not heeded. Most over the counter teeth bleaching products contain only a 10% percent concentrate of the active oxidizing agent carbamide peroxide. While it is possible that excessive overuse can result in some damage to teeth, the amount of treatments that one would have to perform on their teeth to reach this level is virtually impossible by any consumer who follows directions.
No detrimental side effects of teeth bleaching have been documented. Bleaching does make teeth more sensitive, but that’s only temporary. If you think your teeth are too sensitive for bleaching (see sensitive teeth), you should consult a professional to see which teeth bleaching gel or teeth bleaching products you could use.
