Facts about Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening treatments have become very popular in recent years as people look for ways to correct teeth that have been stained or yellowed due to years of drinking coffee and red wine, eating dark fruits, tobacco use, and even simple aging. In addition to the professional whitening treatments that are available at dental offices, store shelves are full of over-the-counter at-home teeth whitening products.

Not all teeth whitening treatments are safe, however. At-home whitening treatments have been shown to be quite dangerous. Irritation to the gums and tooth hypersensitivity can occur with overuse or lack of experience with the products. Because of these dangers, Europe has outlawed the sale of over-the-counter treatments, and all whitening treatments in European countries must now be directly overseen by a dentist and preceded by a dental exam.

In light of these concerns, manufacturers of whitening products have begun shifting there focus to stain prevention along with treatments that minimize the unpleasant side effects. Researchers have begun using nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) to help protect the surface of teeth through enamel remineralization and the formation of a coating that guards against acid erosion. It has also been found that nHAp can regenerate and repair enamel that has been weakened. In addition, when applied to teeth prior to whitening, nHAp significantly reduces the hypersensitivity that typically follows whitening treatments. Because of these improvements, more frequent whitening treatments can be performed without fears of the side effects that are generally associated with teeth whitening.

If you would like to learn more about advances in teeth whitening treatments, contact our teeth whitening dentist to schedule a consultation.

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