Is Home Teeth Whitening Safe?

February 3rd, 2009 by Web Author | Filed under Health and Fitness.

The first thing to say is that teeth whitening procedures in general are not appropriate for everybody. It pays to seek professional advice before you begin any whitening treatment. Your dentist will be able to give guidance on the choices you have and on which might not be suitable. Some of them may not be effective in your particular situation.

The question that people face is, does the perceived added safety of a professional procedure by a dentist, justify the extra cost involved. Will the home teeth whitening product be safe and will it be as effective to use? Is it easy to follow the instructions and will doing so prevent any possible side effects? What are the arguments?

In order to provide a safe, over the counter products for home use, the whitening gel is of a lower concentration than you would get from a professional treatment. The question is how good are the results, how fast and how long do they last? But there are still those who questions this.

Do underhanded manufacturers use stronger bleaching agent than they admit to, so that their product is effective? It is even suggested that abrasive materials are added that can be potentially damaging to tooth enamel. I think that both of these theories can be disregarded. If you stick to licensed products you should be OK. The risks of such practices, from massive fines and lawsuits, to withdrawal of the product license, would make it unthinkable.

Quality manufactures do thorough tests before releasing their products to the public. Some quick research on their websites will bring up the results of these trials, and just to be sure, you can follow the links back to the source documents. It would similarly impact their bottom line and their good name, to make unsubstantiated claims.

These treatments normally involve placing a gel containing tray over your teeth for up to an hour. While this may not be too uncomfortable, it is an inconvenience and you are not likely to exceed the recommended time to any great extent. There are some products that are intended for overnight use and the makers boast of how long their gel remains active, compared to their rivals.

It is more likely that you will still be wearing the device when it has become ineffective, than that you will suffer any ill effects on your teeth from over use. I think we can safely say that these products can be regarded as safe. The other question is, can you get the same benefits that you would from a couple of visits to the dentist.

It is very hard to believe that companies would make claims that they cannot substantiate. After all, if the product provided no benefit, there are millions of users who would be shouting it from the rooftops. The question is how good are the results, how fast and how long lasting? After two visits to your dentist, you can walk out with your new, sparkling smile. And with aftercare, the effect can last for 15 years, but it could be as short as 5.

Some of the home teeth gel treatments claim a noticeable difference after only one hour and that with repeated treatments that you can reach the same levels on the dental comparison charts that you would get from professional whitening. And they can be just as long lasting. So, are they a cost effective alternative?

It is always worth getting professional advice, but a home methods are definitely worth thinking about. And of course, as well as over the counter products, your dentist can supply you with a customised solution.