If you’ve purchased DIY teeth-whitening strips, it is important that you’re aware of how they impact your teeth. Teeth are an essential part of physical appearance and can do wonders for your confidence. Therefore, the last thing you want to do is damage your smile with DIY products without understanding whether they’re safe or not.
Teeth are a symbol of self-care, and people opt to whiten their teeth either through professional teeth whitening or through DIY products.
If you’re considering the short-term solution of using DIY strips for whitening teeth, are they safe or harmful? DIY teeth whitening strips are marketed to deliver instant results. However, without knowing what’s behind the products, it can be dangerous to use for your oral health.
Have You Had A Check-Up?
Teeth Whitening strips come with increased tooth sensitivity and gum irritation, which can be painful if the whitening agent touches the cavity or if your gums are inflamed. Before looking at purchasing teeth whitening strips, it is important that you attend a check-up at the dentist. The dentist will be best placed to understand whether there are any current concerns with your oral health. If you take teeth whitening strips with known oral health problems such as toothache and decay, this can cause major problems to your oral health. Also, neglected teeth that are not brushed regularly will not respond to the strips as you’d want them to. Therefore, positive oral health habits are necessary.
Have You Had Cosmetic Fittings?
Teeth-whitening strips are not effective on cosmetic treatments like porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges or dental implants. These will remain the same shade giving you an uneven-coloured smile. Internal stains or discolouration on teeth are difficult to remove with teeth-whitening products.
Do You Know What The Products Contain?
Many illegal teeth whitening strips on the market put your oral health at risk. Some manufacturers simply apply chemicals to the product to whiten teeth without adequate research on any harmful side-effects. Citric acid is an example chemical used in teeth whitening strips which can quickly damage your enamel. Without understanding the products you’re using; you’re putting your oral health at risk.
What Is Your Goal?
Teeth-whitening strips are not designed to whiten teeth for that long-term smile. Teeth whitening products are short-term fixes to a dark shade of teeth. Once a product is past its shelf-life, it is more likely that you’ll continue to use the same products if they worked the first time around. This means overdoing it, introducing sensitivity and potentially permanent damage to teeth. Therefore, only consider using whitening strips for the short-term.
Summary
It is difficult to determine whether teeth whitening strips are safe, particularly as many manufacturers are making whitening strips with unknown chemicals. However, if the answer cannot be given, this usually means the products aren’t as safe as you think. The bottom line is that whilst whitening strips may be safe, you must consult the dentist before trying any whitening products. Whitening strips will not work if you’re suffering adverse oral health problems. This means strips will do more harm to your teeth than good. Long-term use of whitening strips is also not recommended. It can damage your oral health in the long run. Therefore, consider using whitening strips once and once only.
Don’t forget to check out the common teeth whitening treatments. If you’re unsure about teeth whitening treatments and prefer to keep teeth clean through oral hygiene, you can also follow tips to keep teeth white at home.
If you’re seeking further advice from a local dentist about teeth whitening, contact us and we’d be happy to help.
