Helpful Safety Tips When Using Teeth Whitening Products
Nowadays, a dazzling smile seems easy to achieve now, thanks to the rise of teeth-whitening products. As a matter of fact, there are already different kinds of teeth whitening products on the market today. They come either on strips, LED activated formula, toothpaste, and many others.
You can even buy these kinds of products online without any dentist prescriptions. There are side effects if products aren't properly applied or used as directed by the manufacturer.
Right before you start using do-it-yourself teeth whitening products, here are some helpful safety tips you should remember.
Consult Your Dentist
There's no harm to seeking professional guidance. Even if you have regular visits to your dentist, do consult him/her about using teeth whitening products.
If you're looking for someone who knows those kinds of products – your dentist is the right person. Don't hesitate to present your questions about teeth whitening products to your dentist, because he knows what's best for you. Maybe he can even recommend some products suited for your teeth.
By going to your dentist, he can also check your teeth if it's compatible using teeth whitening products.
Be a Wise Shopper
Common teeth whiteners have peroxides on them, carbamide peroxide, to be exact. This water-soluble compound is used in dental bleaching products. So when choosing, opt for whitening products that have 16% to 35% carbamide peroxide concentration.
You can choose which concentration you should use within that range. But according to a research study, 35% concentration gave a more whitening effect than 16%.
Well, of course, we have different preferences, even in teeth whitening. I highly suggest using a much less concentration and see if it does achieve the shade of white you're looking for, and if not, you can choose a different product with a higher concentration.
Follow Directions Carefully
Directions are meant to be followed, especially when you're applying products to your body. Please don't leave strips, gels, and LED activators longer than the directions. People think that using the product longer than what is advised would speed up its efficacy. Well, it doesn't.
It might even get sore gums or other dental problems because of this. So carefully follow the manual or directions advised by the manufacturers.
If it says that you should avoid consuming certain beverages or foods like sodas and sports drinks, do so. They do this to ensure the effectiveness of the product.
When Not to Use It
Pregnant and nursing mothers should stop using teeth whitening products in the meantime. The chemical inside these products could affect your baby badly. So forget about teeth whitening if you're carrying a child inside your womb or still nursing your baby.
Also, your composite dental crowns may not whiten up like the rest of your teeth. So think twice using teeth whitening products, or else you might end up having uneven results.
Some of us have sensitive teeth. You might experience a mild sensitivity on your teeth after whitening them. It's harmless and less of an issue if you do have healthy teeth and gums. But, if it bothers you and doesn't go away. Stop your teeth whitening regiment, and see your dentist about it.
Don't Go Too Far
Before buying or using a teeth whitening product, try to figure out how much whitening you want to achieve. You'd always get good results if you do carefully follow the instructions. Once you've achieved that, a monthly retouch session would suffice.
Don't overdo yourself. People have this wrong mindset, that even after you've achieved the shade you want, reducing the usage of teeth whitening products will revert your teeth to its previous shade.
Well, it doesn't work like that. With proper care and retouch, you will keep your teeth as white as they can be.
Final Thoughts
I don't have any idea what kind of teeth whitening product you'd be using from this point right here. Just keep in mind these general safety tips when you use one.