Is tooth whitening safe ?
While teeth whitening has been generally accepted as a safe and effective treatment, there is the potential for abuse and misuse of teeth whitening products. Another concern is overuse of teeth whitening products. Many people are unaware that with all hydrogen peroxide products (including hair bleaching), teeth whitening works by the process of oxidation, which can be stressful to the oral environment including soft tissues (i.e, gums) in the mouth which depend on proper levels of important antioxidants to protect cells from free radical damage. The oxidation process of whitening, also known as Oxidative Stress, can be very harmful over time and has been linked to the promulgation of many diseases including cancers. While inconclusive, there is cause for concern with the unsupervised and improper use of many OTC peroxide-based whitening products in the mouth.
In addition, some teeth whitening products were found to have dangerous concentrations of hydrogen peroxide that can cause chemical burns, tooth sensitivity, and in severe cases permanent tooth damage. With all teeth whitening, you should consult with your dentist first, to ensure that you are a candidate and in good dental condition prior to treatment. The products selected should be ADA approved, and many of the professionally supervised in-office teeth whitening applies a protective cover over the gums while whitening. I utilize a vitamin-rich 'gum mask' in the mouth following all of our teeth whitening procedures to restore and replenish antioxidants (especially vitamin C, E and coenzyme Q-10) that are lost during the whitening process.
