It’s safe to say that most people want their teeth to look as clean and white as possible. Unfortunately, however, even despite excellent oral hygiene practices and routine visits to the dentist, sometimes they can still look a little lackluster. Thankfully, cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening were created to combat this. But how much is too much? Is there a such thing as over-whitening your smile? Here’s why using these products too frequently could be dangerous for your teeth!
Professional Whitening vs. Over the Counter
When it comes to whitening your smile, not all methods are created equally. While typically more affordable, over-the-counter whitening treatments are usually not as effective as professional treatments from your dentist. Worse still, because they yield sub-par results, storebought kits may need to be used much longer, thereby exposing your teeth to an excess amount of chemicals. This can not only create extended sensitivity, but it can also be dangerous and may not be ADA compliant.
With professional whitening, your dentist can easily control the amount of chemicals your teeth are exposed to, ensuring that you never receive more than you need. This will help give you the results you want with none of the risk of overexposure to powerful active ingredients. Furthermore, because you’ll need a consultation before your treatment can commence, you can rest assured that your smile is healthy and safe before treatment begins, as whitening a smile with untreated decay or cavities could cause permanent damage.
How Much is Too Much?
Because each patient is different, it’s hard to say how much exposure to whitening is “too much.” However, manufacturers recommend that you only use most over-the-counter products once every three to six months, which is usually nowhere near enough time to get noticeable results. With professional whitening, it is only recommended that you treat your teeth once a year, but typically in-office whitening can remove up to eight shades of discoloration in about an hour, with take-home kits providing the same results in about two weeks.
Remember, while it the pursuit of a whiter smile may seem perfectly safe, its important to be aware of the risks of whitening too frequently. Thus, if you have stubborn stains or discoloration, don’t waste time and money on over-the-counter products that most likely won’t deliver the results you need. Start at the top and speak to your dentist today about the benefits of professional whitening and you could have a healthy, stain-free smile in about an hour!
About Dr. Rowley
Dr. Nicholas Rowley graduated cum laude at Florida State University and earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine at Nova Southeastern University in 2010. Since then, he has taken hundreds of hours of continuing education, and he is a proud, active member of the American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association, Central Florida District Dental Association, and the Brevard County Dental Society. To schedule a consultation for teeth whitening at Rowley Family Dentistry, visit our website or call us today at 321-723-1772.