How safe are teeth whitening strips?

30 Sep.,2024

 

Are Whitening Strips Bad For Your Teeth? - Cary Family ...

added on: November 30,

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One of the most popular ways to whiten teeth nowadays is through the use of whitening strips. This form of smile whitening can be purchased at almost any store and even conveniently online. Your dentist in Cary wants you to know that while whitening strips may be easy to come by and can even be effective in some cases, there are also some ways they can be bad for your teeth. 

What Are Whitening Strips? 

Over-the-counter teeth whitening strips are thin pieces of plastic that are slathered with whitening gel. The active and inactive ingredients in whitening strips can include: 

  • Hydrogen Peroxide

    &#; The active ingredient that whitens tooth enamel

  • Sodium Hydroxide

    &#; A type of stain remover

  • Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)

    &#; Protects enamel from new stains

  • Glycerin & Hydroxypropylcellulose

    &#; Helps to stick strips to teeth and keeps them in place

Patients place the strips on their upper and lower teeth for a determined amount of time, based on the product instructions. These strips can remove surface stains in as little as two weeks. However, if tooth staining is inside the tooth, whitening strips won&#;t help brighten your smile. This is why you should always consult your dentist in Cary prior to whitening your teeth so you&#;re sure to get the results you want. 

Can Whitening Strips Be Bad for Teeth? 

There&#;s no one right answer to this as it can depend on a variety of things. For the most part, the proper use of whitening strips is safe for most people. However, if directions aren&#;t followed and strips are left on for too long or used too often, they can be bad for teeth. Why? The active ingredient of hydrogen peroxide can not only whiten teeth, but it can also damage enamel if not used correctly. Another thing to consider is if your whitening strips use chlorine dioxide. This ingredient will remove tooth enamel, along with stains, but the removal of enamel is dangerous and can result in unwanted side effects. Avoid using products with this ingredient as enamel damage is irreversible. 

Side Effects of Whitening Strips

While most whitening strips are safe to use if the directions are followed properly, there can still be side effects. One of the most commonly reported side effects of using whitening strips is increased tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity can be uncomfortable and may show itself in the form of quick zings of pain or discomfort when eating or drinking something hot or cold. 

Rules of Thumb

When it comes to whitening your teeth at home using whitening strips, there are some rules your dentist in Cary wants you to follow. 

  • Don&#;t brush your teeth immediately after using whitening strips unless the instructions tell you to.

  • Don&#;t use whitening strips more often than recommended in the product&#;s packaging.

  • Don&#;t leave whitening strips on longer than instructed. Your teeth won&#;t get whiter, it just increases the risk of damage.

  • Don&#;t use strips that contain chlorine dioxide.

  • Don&#;t use strips that have more than 14% hydrogen peroxide.

If you&#;re looking to improve the look of your smile by whitening your teeth, talk with your dentist in Cary first. They can recommend the best way to brighten your smile in a safe and effective way. 

For more ​How Safe Are Teeth Whitening Strips?information, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Whitening strips: Do they work and how to use them

In this article, we look at whether whitening strips work, what to look for when buying them, how to use them, their pros and cons, and how to avoid teeth staining.

People apply whitening strips directly to their teeth. Although the strips contain chemicals, such as carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide , the American Dental Association (ADA) states that they are safe and effective if they bear the ADA Seal of Acceptance. However, people may experience adverse effects when using any whitening products.

Teeth can be an important part of a person&#;s self-image. Inevitably, teeth begin to yellow with age, but people can use various techniques to slow the process. Among these techniques are whitening strips, which people can purchase over the counter (OTC) and use to help remove stains and whiten teeth.

Whitening strips are a popular dental product that may help remove stains from and whiten the teeth. While they are not as effective as treatments from a dentist&#;s office, they can be a more simple and cheap alternative. However, people should take care to check the ingredients of the strips and apply them carefully.

Additionally, the effectiveness of the strips may rely on the strength of the chemicals and how long people keep them on the teeth. Evidence suggests, though, that using teeth whitening products that contain hydrogen peroxide can endanger tooth health . Therefore, it may be advisable to discuss the use of these products with a dentist.

However, it is important to note that at-home whitening strips contain lower concentrations of whitening ingredients than dentist-supplied products. People with heavily stained teeth or high expectations may not get the results they want using OTC whitening strips.

According to the ADA , teeth whitening products, including strips, can help effectively remove both internal and external stains on teeth. However, they do not work on fake teeth. A review also states that teeth whitening strips are an effective OTC agent that typically works better than other OTC whitening agents, such as whitening toothpaste.

When shopping for whitening strips, people may wish to consider the following:

However, these instructions may vary depending on the product. Therefore, a person should follow the guidelines on the packaging and never wear the strips for longer than the manufacturer suggests.

Manufacturers may also recommend the ideal frequency of use for their whitening strips. A standard recommendation is to apply whitening strips twice daily for 2 weeks.

However, a person typically applies the strips directly to their teeth. Manufacturers may recommend avoiding brushing the teeth shortly before applying the strips. A person will then leave the strips on their teeth for the recommended length of time. This duration may vary among products, but it is common to leave the strips on for about 30 minutes .

People should carefully read any information on the product&#;s packaging and instructions before using whitening strips.

People are more likely to experience side effects if they do not follow the manufacturer&#;s instructions for a product. If a person has gum disease or another dental disease, they should consult a dentist before trying OTC whitening strips.

While there are advantages to using whitening strips, there are also some downsides. These include:

People can attempt to avoid staining by limiting their consumption of foods and drinks that are known to discolor teeth. They can also try to stop smoking or chewing tobacco, if applicable. If medications are the culprit, a doctor may be able to recommend alternatives if they are available.

There are various reasons why teeth may stain over time. These include:

There are two categories of dental whitening products: those available through a dentist and those for sale OTC.

Aside from whitening strips, other products available OTC include:

  • whitening toothpaste
  • whitening mouthwash
  • whitening gels
  • whitening trays
  • whitening powder

A person can also get whitening products or services through their dentist. Dentist-supplied whitening products are usually more concentrated. The options available directly from dentists include:

  • custom dental trays with bleaching gels, for either at-home or in-office application
  • light-activated bleaching, which is an in-office procedure
  • power bleaching

Some people prefer to use natural products to remove stains, but most reports of effectiveness are anecdotal at best. However, evidence does suggest that baking soda can help whiten teeth. A review concludes that brushing with baking soda-based toothpaste or powder is an effective and safe way to remove stains and whiten teeth.

Similar to the possible risks of carbamide and hydrogen peroxide, it is important to apply caution if using certain products that people sometimes recommend, such as fruit juices, vinegar, or scrubs. These may instead cause damage to the teeth or make staining even worse.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of How to Solve Smoke and Tea Stains with Whitening Strips?. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.