Can Whitening Products Cause Damage to Your Teeth?

In recent years the popularity of teeth whitening products has skyrocketed. From toothpaste to mouthwash to whitening strips and gels, a consumer has a myriad of possibilities to allay the problem of discolored teeth. While many of these products have very noticeable positive effects, are there other side effects we may not know about? Can whitening your teeth actually be doing damage?

The primary essential ingredient in most tooth whitening products is carbamide peroxide, a molecular combination of hydrogren peroxide and urea. The carbamide is able to do its magic because the compound releases oxygen when mixed with water, a process that chemically removes built-up stains on teeth. The normal concentration of carbamide peroxide in whitening products is 10%, and testing at levels of this concentration, studies have found no conclusive evidence that whitening products damage teeth. The make-up, hardness, and thickness of teeth, when reviewed in a ten year study of those using standard whitening products, were all found to be unchanged.

Most whitening products do, however, cause increased sensitivity in teeth that can make eating and drinking certain things painful. While many now include desensitizing ingredients that can help to counteract these side effects, discomfort and sensitivity is still to be expected. The best course of action to combat this problem is to use whitening products less frequently. Increasing the number of days between each whitening treatment won't downplay the positive effects, but will alleviate most of the sensitivity the products can cause. Toothpastes for sensitive teeth, like Sensodyne, can also provide relief when used in conjunction with whitening products.

One form of whitening product that has been advised to avoid is at-home whitening gel and tray systems. Similar to expensive whitening procedures performed at dental offices, these products utilize a bleaching gel that is applied to the teeth by a tray kept in the mouth for an extended period of time. Unlike the ones used by dentists, at-home trays can often be loose-fitting or misshaped for the user's mouth, causing some of the gel to leak off the teeth and on to the gums and tongue. While no tests have been performed on humans, tests in recent years have revealed that peroxide (the active ingredient in whiteners) has caused the formation of tumors in animals when applied to their gums and cheeks. Even without conclusive evidence, many researchers are now saying that at-home gels should be avoided, as the risk very well may outweigh the reward.

In conclusion, using recommended doses of whitening products with safe levels of carbamide peroxide can be a healthy and advisable way to reverse tooth discoloration and staining. Overuse should be monitored, however, and increased sensitivity is a warning sign to slow down or stop the usage of whitening products. At-home gels are still leaving dental professionals with a number of questions and it seems clear that safer, well-tested alternatives should be sought in their place.

Sources:

Common Questions About Tooth Whitening. Darren R. Williams, DDS. WebMD.

Safety of Tooth Whitening Products. Dr. Dan Peterson.