Risks of Unsupervised Teeth Whitening

 Many risks can result from the use of unsupervised tooth whitening.

The most important ones are: 

• Overlook the detection of cavities, gum disease, and other oral pathologies.

• Dental sensitivity may occur. If done treatment in the dental office, our dentist will be able to explain the steps to follow if the sensitivity of our teeth increases.

• Increased erosion and wear of teeth. Many whitening products have abrasive particles in their composition that can promote the deterioration of the tooth surface if not used properly.

• Not all teeth can be whitened. For example, people who have taken certain antibiotics (tetracyclines) or have consumed an excess of fluoride in the water during the formation and development of the tooth have stains on its surface that could not be breached if the degree of affectation is high. The same is true for other congenital or developmental disorders that affect the enamel. Neither can teeth be whitened with crowns or "caps" since the surface of the tooth, which is lightened, is covered by ceramic and/or metal. In these cases, with unsupervised whitening, the person will be exposed to the side effects without any added benefit.

• Unequal whitening in different areas of the tooth Teeth that have some extent, been restored or "filled" cannot be bleached evenly, as it is the tooth that is bleached, not the restorative material. In the dental office, our dentist will warn us about this effect and give us possible solutions for an excellent aesthetic result.

• The lessening effect when using unsupervised products, which include whitening agents at a lower concentration than those prescribed by dentists.

• Persistence of stains and stains that should have been removed in a previous dental cleaning by the dentist.