Safety of Whitening Treatments

There are many different methods for whitening teeth that are stained or dull. These range from over-the-counter products to prescribed take home whitening kits to in-office procedures performed by a qualified dentist. While teeth whitening procedures are considered to be relatively safe, they use potent bleaching chemicals that can be harmful if not used as directed.

OTC Products

Over-the-counter whitening products include whitening toothpastes, strips, and gels. These products only whiten teeth a few shades, which is often hard to even notice, and they can take a long time to do so. In the case of toothpastes, they use abrasives to buff the tooth to make it shine brighter. Sometimes this can do more harm than good because it can scratch away enamel that is already thinning. The chemicals in the strips and gels are greatly diluted, so they are considered relatively safe as long as they are used as directed.

Prescribed Kits

For those looking to achieve better results than products bought in stores can offer, a dentist can prescribe take-home whitening kits that can whiten teeth up to five shades in several weeks. The peroxide bleaching chemicals used in these kits is more potent so take care to follow the dentist’s instructions precisely.

In-Office Procedures

The fastest and most effective way to whiten teeth is with an in-office procedure performed by the dentist. These methods can whiten teeth up to eight shades in as little as one hour. The chemicals used in such treatments are very powerful but since the procedure is performed by a professional, in-office treatments are considered one of the safest methods available.

Most teeth whitening methods are considered safe as long as the instructions are followed. Look for methods that are ADA approved or contact our Los Angeles Tooth Whitening expert if you have any further questions.

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