Teeth Whitening and Dr. Lampee’s Two Cents
“Does teeth whitening damage my teeth?”
This is what several people have asked me over the past few months. The answer will follow, but I feel it is pertinent to offer some history of teeth bleaching first.
Since the dawn of man, a strong, healthy smile has often been judged by the whiteness of one’s teeth. During Egyptian times, pumice and wine vinegar were tried to whiten teeth. In the 1800s, people would go to their barber for a treatment of nitric acid, which would temporarily whiten the teeth but would also dissolve the enamel, causing severe tooth decay. Many other chemicals (including urine) have been tried; most were not safe and most did not actually change tooth color.
In the past 10 years, a huge interest has been blossoming in cosmetic dentistry with teeth whitening. Patient interest has translated to development of safe and effective technologies in teeth whitening. There are now two main chemicals used to whiten teeth: hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide gels. They come in different strengths, with hydrogen peroxide generally being a little stronger. Both work nearly the same though and both are safe products for your teeth. Research has shown that no long-term damage comes from teeth whitening.
The number one complaint when using a whitening gel is tooth sensitivity after use. This ranges from mild to moderate sensitivity, generally lasting for a day or two. Most whiteners now incorporate a desensitizer and fluoride, in the hopes of reducing sensitivity.
Each patient will experience a differing level of sensitivity while bleaching. Some people experience none, others more (my teeth are generally mildly sensitive the day after I bleach). Patients with gum recession, periodontal disease, and many crowns and fillings experience the most sensitivity. It is also wise to say that crowns and fillings do not bleach (only natural tooth structure does). If sensitivity is an issue, I recommend stopping for a day or two and also whitening for a shorter amount of time.
Once you reach your desired whiteness, daily bleaching is no longer necessary, and I encourage you to do a once weekly or once monthly maintenance session.
In summary, many methods have been tried over the last 3000 years, but with today’s technology and products, teeth whitening is now safe, effective, and does not harm the teeth on a long-term basis. Tooth sensitivity is the number one complaint, but is generally mild and goes away within a day or two of stopping bleaching.
