Teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic procedure for those who wish to brighten their smile. Teeth whitening is one of the services that our team offers. However, it is possible for a patient to overdo treatments, especially if a patient uses over-the-counter whitening kits. Excessive whitening has its own medical term: bleachorexia. And bleachorexia is a serious threat to a patient's oral health.
Damage Caused by Excessive Whitening
Excessive whitening can erode the teeth's enamel and dentin. This can have the effect of discoloring teeth, as the edges will become transparent, and heavily-damaged teeth will take on a gray appearance. Excessive whitening can irritate the gums and even cause them to recede, exposing sensitive parts of the tooth such as the roots. The damage to teeth will also render them sensitive to heat, cold, and pressure. Finally, some over-the-counter whitening kits, such as ones that are sold online only, may have chemicals that have unpredictable or dire reactions to the patient's mouth.
Benefits of Professional Whitening
As an alternative to over-the-counter whitening kits, our patients are urged to allow our team to perform the procedure. First, we will honestly assess the patient's oral health and history to determine if the patient is a candidate. Certain factors, such as having crowns or uncontrolled periodontitis, are disqualifiers to professional whitening. During the whitening procedure, our professionals take measures to protect the gums and the unaffected teeth from the bleach. Our professionals can advise the patient on how to maintain their new smile and set realistic expectations. Finally, our team can recommend a proper time to reapply the whitening – typically 3 years between whitening treatments.
If you have questions about teeth whitening, call our office for a consultation and a preliminary exam. Our team can determine whether whitening is the best option for you.
Our Blog | Water’s Edge Dental | Boise, ID dentist Water's Edge Dental has created this informative blog to help educate the community. Water's Edge Dental, 6657 N. Glenwood Street, Boise, ID 83714-1925 • (208) 391-8554 • watersedgedentalboise.com • 10/8/2024 • Related Terms: dentist Boise ID •
Teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic procedure for those who wish to brighten their smile. Teeth whitening is one of the services that our team offers. However, it is possible for a patient to overdo treatments, especially if a patient uses over-the-counter whitening kits. Excessive whitening has its own medical term: bleachorexia. And bleachorexia is a serious threat to a patient's oral health.