ARE YOU OBSESSED WITH BLEACHING YOUR TEETH?

Called Bleachorexia, tooth-whitening addictions are real, but unless you are whitening your teeth with a custom bleaching kit from your dentist, your bleaching obsession could cause you problems with your teeth and gums.

You can buy all sorts of tooth bleaching products from your local pharmacy including tooth-bleaching gels, pastes, strips and mouth rinses, but over bleaching, can lead to hypersensitivity, which is probably the biggest complaint among bleachorexics. If your teeth become hypersensitive, it means that hot and cold foods or foods that are super sweet can cause pain or extreme sensitivity.

Although over the counter bleaching products are not as strong as the tooth whitening products that are prescribed by your dentist, your throat, palate, and gums can become irritated from tooth bleaching products. Use too much of it, and your may find yourself nauseous as well, but the side effects will cease once you stop using the tooth whitening products.

If you have been using a bleaching kit for quite some time, your enamel is at risk. The outer coating of your teeth can wear away if you bleach too often or have been bleaching too long. If you do buy an over the counter tooth bleaching product, make sure that it has the ADA seal of approval.

The best way to whiten your teeth is to schedule an appointment with your dentist for tooth whitening. Your dentist will be able to determine if your teeth and gums are healthy before recommending a custom made bleaching system using trays made to fit your teeth and gums, or a chair side whitening system such as Zoom!

If you do want to try an over the counter bleaching system, make sure that you buy a kit that is approved by the American Dental Association. How long you should bleach your teeth really depends on how high the concentration of peroxide is which can range from between fifteen and thirty-five percent. The higher the concentration in your bleach, the less time you will need to lighten your teeth.

After you have had your teeth bleached professionally or used an over the counter kit, your teeth should stay white until they become stained again which can happen with coffee, tea, red wine and even heavy tomato sauce.

Your dentist explains that you should treat your white teeth as you do your clothes, if you want to keep your teeth white, maintain a, “White,” diet. Avoid coffee, tea, red wine, blueberries, curries, cumin, and mustard that can stain your teeth. If you do indulge, make sure that you brush your teeth after eating or drinking stain causing foods and drinks.

The most important thing about tooth whitening is to be realistic. If the whites of your eyes are darker than your teeth, you face will be out of balance and will not look natural.

For more information regarding tooth-bleaching products, schedule an appointment with your dentist today.

March 02, 2015 | Uncategorized Back to Blog