Why You Should Never Whiten Your Own Teeth!

With so much cosmetic surgery available nowadays, and so any stars with that 'Hollywood smile', it can be hard to escape the pressure, and you may be considering having your teeth whitened; something many Americans (or most nationalities, for that matter!) have indulged in.

However, with so many Do It Yourself kits, and salons offering teeth whitening services, for much more than your local cosmetic dentist would charge, it can be easy to be fooled by the all-too-alluring prices - something you may soon regret, should you take the risk!

Having your teeth whitened by anyone other than a qualified dentist can mean you run the risk of seeing no results whatsoever, an unpleasant sensation whenever you eat for a prolonged period of time, or some side-effects that are altogether more sinister.

Not only can bad teeth-whitening severely strip and damage the enamel (protective layer) on your teeth, but it can also burn your mouth, causing ulcers and blistering; your teeth could become more prone to decay and more sensitive to hot and cold, and all for the sake of a whiter smile?

Now, this doesn't mean we can't still get the sparkling smile we'd love - it'll just require a little more cash! Certified dentists, or salons which use the services of a qualified cosmetic dentist tend to be a little pricier than the average at-home kit, but it's definitely worth the cost, considering the potential threats - also, you're bound to get better results, so you really need to make sure the person you hire knows what they're doing.

Some beauticians may tell you that you won't need a qualified dentist, as there are currently no laws stopping just about anybody from whitening your teeth. However, only a qualified dentist can tailor the chemicals for your mouth; the more sensitive your teeth and gums, the less bleach that'll be used.

Even one small mistake with a home-whitening kit can have disastrous effects, as Gemma Laneu, a trainee beautician from Canada, tells us: "I was a little self-conscious of starting beauty school - people expect their beautician to be immaculate, well-groomed, so I invested in a teeth-whitening kit, from a well-known chain store, not being able to afford 'the real deal' on a student's budget. I followed the instructions to the letter, if anything, leaving the gel on for less time than instructed - so, it shouldn't have been a surprise when the formula did nothing for me, right? And, yet, two, three days later, I couldn't shake the numb sensation, from the roof of my mouth - it was like when you eat something too hot, and burn yourself. A trip to the dentist soon put me straight - while there were no visible signs of damage, the dentist was able to show me the terrible damage I'd done to the enamel on my teeth - something that causes me trouble, even to this day, a year and a half on. I wish I'd just saved up, and gone to a cosmetic dentist, in the first place."