Do Teeth Whitening Strips Damage Teeth?

Do Teeth Whitening Strips Damage Teeth?
Photo by Quang Tri NGUYEN on Unsplash

Yes, over-the-counter whitening strips can cause damages to your teeth by eroding the structure of your teeth. The hydrogen peroxide used in the whitening strips can kill the collagen in your teeth.

People always wish to have that picture-perfect smile, but fail to maintain them. In order to remove the stains from the teeth, many assume that whitening strips are the low-cost, effective way to achieve whiter and brighter teeth.  However, teeth whitening strips are not safe. The professional teeth whitening Blacktown done by the dentist is the right way to whiten the teeth.

How do teeth whitening strips work?

Over-the-counter teeth whitening strips are made from plastic substance and coated in a thin layer of whitening gel that contains hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. When the strips are applied in the teeth, the gel is applied on the teeth, allowing it to penetrate the tooth and begin to remove the stains. Usually, the strips are applied daily for a couple of weeks. Although it seems to be a cost-effective option, there are certain problems involved with it and here are they:-

Uneven teeth whitening

No matter how carefully you place the strips on your teeth; there will be some places where the strips are not in full contact with the teeth. If you didn’t notice it and apply the strips for a period of time, some of the areas won’t be whitened and you could see it over the course of the treatment. It will give uneven results and you have to approach the cosmetic dentist Blacktown to whiten the teeth, which will cost you more. In worst cases, you may be left with unsightly yellow edges on your teeth that are visible.

Gum issues

The bleaching agent on the strips is not as effective as used by the dentist and they do harm to your teeth instead of doing good. It will cause damages to the soft tissues of your gum. While applying the whitening strips, it is crucial to avoid contact between the whitening agent and your gums. However, keeping the gel away from the gum is a difficult one to get it right every time you apply the whitening strips on your teeth.

Tooth sensitivity

Overdoing the strips can cause tooth sensitivity and permanent damage to your teeth. The layer of the enamel will be eroded due to the extensive application of whitening agents that not only cause pain but also increase the risk of dental decay.

While over-the-counter whitening strips seem to be a cost-effective method to whiten your teeth, it is not a safer one. Having a course of professional teeth whitening from your dentist Blacktown will offer you long-term results with no side effects.