Many of us like the idea of having shiny white teeth that project a healthy smile and that is why teeth whitening products and procedures have enjoyed a fair amount of commercial success.
The big question to ask amongst the obvious aesthetic benefits is whether teeth whitening is actually safe?
Here is a look at what’s involved and aspects of the whitening process that you need to consider before going ahead, plus a look at a chemical-free alternative.
Understanding what is going on with your teeth
It is a good idea to understand about tooth discoloration so that you can appreciate what the various whitening products are trying to counteract.
There are two types of discoloration that occur.
Extrinsic discoloration happens when some of your favorite foods or drink leave a mark on your teeth. Drinking things like coffee, red wine and a whole range of different foods will result in staining on the outside of your teeth and whitening products like toothpaste are designed to try and attack these stains.
Intrinsic discoloration is more complex and you might experience discoloration from within the tooth because of illness, trauma to the to the tooth, or as a result of the natural aging process.
The type of staining that you have will have a bearing on the type of treatment you consider and how suitable it is for your teeth.
Increased sensitivity
Although most aspects of teeth whitening can be considered safe under professional guidance one of the issues that you might experience afterward is increased sensitivity.
It can often be the case that the sensitivity will decrease over a period of time.
You might also experience some problems with irritated gums and gingival irritation is possible when your gums come into contact with a whitening product.
The risk of damage
Many commercial teeth whitening products will use hydrogen peroxide and the concentration can exceed 10% in some of these products.
High concentrations of peroxide can potentially damage the enamel and outer coating of your teeth if the concentration level is too high.
It might be tempting to consider a high strength whitening product in order to achieve a quick result but it seems that the higher the concentration the greater the risk you run of damaging your teeth, which is not what you want to do.
Teeth whitening process without peroxide
In view of these risks, you may wish to look at the best ways to whiten your teeth without resorting to peroxide.
One option would be a dual light-activated teeth whitening system that is made with activated charcoal and it contains only natural ingredients.
The LED whitener system works by using a blue light that is tuned to a wavelength that is designed to help prevent gum and periodontal disease and a red light that is tuned to another wavelength.
Using technology, the LED process is specifically aimed at whitening teeth without chemicals.
You may have decided to do something about your discoloration but it would be wise to check out all the options and make sure you check out all the pros and cons before you proceed, especially if you are tempted to use chemicals.