Should You Go for Teeth Whitening? Is it Safe?

Our teeth are stained and change their color because of several reasons. However, we can make it white and bright again by opting for a teeth whitening procedure. The procedure involves either visiting the dentist or trying whitening products at home. These procedures are considered safe as long as it is treated accurately.

Reasons for Discoloration of Teeth

Discoloration or staining of teeth can be due to several reasons like:

• Having bad habits of smoking or drinking alcohol.
• Drinking tea, coffee, red wine, and eating foods like tobacco.
• Discoloration from medicines, childhood illness, infection, aging, and tooth trauma.

Thus, treating the discoloration will be based on the type of stain in your teeth.

Types of Teeth Whitening Treatment

Here are the types of teeth whitening:

• An in-office teeth whitening procedure is done in the clinic by your dentist. It is a safe treatment as it is done by a specialized professional. It is different from other treatments as the gel used in the procedure contains a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide.
• The at-home teeth whitening procedure is another treatment in which your dentist helps in whitening your teeth, but you do this at home. Here, the dentist provides you with a customized tray and a gel. They give you the instructions for using the gel for 30 minutes to an hour a day. This procedure involves a few weeks for brightening your teeth again.
• There are several over-the-counter teeth whitening products available in the market. These products involve whitening toothpaste, strips, and many more. They are less effective and take more time than the other two teeth whitening treatments.

Side Effects of Teeth Whitening

Though the procedure is considered safe, some people experience  side effects from the treatment like:

• After the treatment, the teeth become more sensitive. To cope with the sensitivity, your dentist recommends products that have potassium nitrate and sodium fluoride gel in it.
• Patients will also feel gum irritation or gingival irritation due to whitening products used in the treatment. However, it goes away after the treatment.

You can go for a teeth whitening procedure as it is considered safe as long as you opt for the dentist-approved methods. Dentists will consider everything before proceeding with the procedure further. Be sure to look for the procedure that fits well to your needs. Do not forget to contact your dentist if you encounter any side effects.

Stone Dental Group-SE Chicago Dentistry offers comprehensive dental care treatments including teeth whitening. For more details and consultation call us at (773) 8805080, book online, or visit us at 2845 N Sheridan Rd #914, Chicago, IL 60657.