Teeth Whitening
Who Should Not Undergo Teeth Whitening?
Teeth Whitening is not recommended or will be less successful in the following circumstances:
Whitening is not recommended in children under the age of 16. This is because the pulp chamber, or nerve of the tooth, is enlarged until this age. Teeth whitening under this condition could irritate the pulp or cause it to become sensitive. Teeth whitening is also not recommended in pregnant or lactating women.
Individuals with
sensitive teeth
and gums,
receding gums
, and/or defective restorations should consult with their dentist prior to using a tooth-whitening system. Anyone allergic to peroxide (the whitening agent) should not use our product.
Gum disease
, worn enamel, cavities, and exposed roots.
Individuals with gum disease or teeth with worn enamel are generally discouraged from undergoing a tooth-whitening procedure. Cavities need to be treated before undergoing any whitening procedure. This is because the whitening solutions penetrate into any existing decay and the inner areas of the tooth, which can cause sensitivity. Also, whitening procedures will not work on exposed tooth roots, because roots do not have an enamel layer.
Fillings, crowns, and other restorations.
Tooth-colored fillings and resin composite materials used in dental restorations (crowns,
veneers
, bonding, bridges) do not whiten. Therefore, using a whitening agent on teeth that contain restorations will result in uneven whitening -- in this case, making the teeth without restorations appear lighter than those with restorations. Any whitening procedure should be done prior to the placement of restorations. Individuals with numerous restorations that would result in uneven whitening may be better off considering bonding,
veneers
, or crowns rather than a tooth whitening system.
Yellowish and brownish teeth respond well to whitening, grayish-hue or purple-
stained teeth
may not respond to bleaching at all. Blue-gray staining caused by the antibiotic
tetracycline
is more difficult to whiten and may require up to six months of home treatments or several in-office appointments to successfully lighten. Such clients may be better candidates for another lightening option, such as veneers, bonding, or crowns.
Risks Associated With Teeth Whitening
The two side effects that occur most often with teeth whitening are a temporary increase in tooth sensitivity and mild irritation of the soft tissues of the mouth
, particularly the gums. Tooth sensitivity often occurs during early stages of the whitening treatment. Tissue irritation most commonly results from an ill-fitting mouthpiece tray rather than the tooth-whitening agent. Both of these conditions usually are temporary and disappear within one to three days of stopping or completing treatment.
If you do experience sensitivity, you can reduce or eliminate it by:
- Wearing the tray for a shorter period of time (for example, two 30-minute sessions vs. two 60-minute sessions).
- Stop whitening your teeth for two to three days to allow teeth to adjust to the whitening process.
- Apply the desenzitizing gel in the kit which can help remineralize your teeth. Apply the fluoride product to the tray and wear for four minutes prior to and following the whitening agent.
- Brush teeth with a toothpaste made for sensitive teeth such as sensodyne. These toothpastes contain
potassium
nitrate, which helps soothe the teeth's nerve endings.
AngelMax Store does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Any advice given by our specialists is NOT a substitute to advice given by your Dentist.
If you have further questions or concerns that couldn't be addressed by our teeth whitening specialists, you may book an appointment with our dentists.
