Today’s patients are more informed than ever, and we’ve found lots of patients who are interested in a whiter smile are asking the important question: is teeth whitening safe? The good news is that teeth whitening is safe – when a reputable whitening system like Philips Zoom is used, under the supervision of a qualified and experienced dentist. At Lyndarum Family Dentist we make use of the Philips Zoom whitening system because it is both safe and efficient. Let’s take a closer look to see how it measures up.
In order to understand the safety concerns associated with teeth whitening you need to have a bit of a background about how it works. Professional teeth whitening products need to penetrate your tooth enamel to perform effective whitening, but as you probably already know, your tooth enamel is extremely important for protecting your teeth.
Is Teeth Whitening Safe?
Not everyone can walk into a whitening session and bleach their teeth. Some patients may have weak tooth enamel, undetected tooth decay, gum disease or damaged tooth enamel, which needs to be addressed before you can consider whitening.
That’s why it is essential to have a check-up with your dentist prior to whitening.
Your dentist will inspect the condition of your teeth and gums and perform the necessary treatments to restore your teeth.Your dentist will also discuss your whitening options, and what could be achieved with professional teeth whitening. This is an important step that should not be skipped, even if you decide to try an at-home treatment.
Your dentist will also give you a professional clean, to ensure your teeth are plaque- and tartar-free, so that your whitening result is even.
Protecting Your Tooth Enamel
Cheaper, low quality and non-professional whitening products can do damage to your tooth enamel as they penetrate it. Philips Zoom whitening actually protects your enamel while it whitens. Philips Zoom whitening products makes use of ACP (amorphous calcium phosphate) to minimise tooth sensitivity and improve the appearance of your teeth. ACP has been clinically proven to protect while it whitens.
Why Is It Important To Look After Teeth Enamel During Whitening?
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, and its job is to protect your teeth. Out of all the tooth layers, tooth enamel is also the most susceptible to discolouration, and can give teeth a yellow, discoloured appearance as we get older.
Lower quality, unregulated teeth whitening products should be avoided, because these pose the greatest risk to weakening your tooth enamel. In Australia, only registered dentists are permitted to administer teeth whitening products that contain more than 6% hydrogen peroxide, because of the damage that can be done if the products are not used correctly.
Philips Zoom whitening products contain 25% hydrogen peroxide, which ensures that you can whiten your smile by six to eight shades, in a very short time frame in your dentist’s office.
Protecting Your Soft Tissue
Before your dentist applies the whitening gel he or she will ensure that your gums and soft tissue are protected – so they do not come into contact with the bleaching agent.
Avoiding Sensitivity After Teeth Whitening
Once your session is over your dentist will apply a gel to your teeth, to minimise sensitivity, which is a fairly common side effect after whitening.
Ensuring Responsible Whitening Top Ups
Sometimes dentists give patients kits to use at home. Sometimes a patient opts for at-home whitening, and sometimes whitening kits are provided to help a patient maintain a smile that was whitened in their dentist’s chair.
In order to ensure safe whitening, it is important that you follow your dentist’s instructions to a tee. This means only using the product as often as your dentist recommends, and only using it for the prescribed time frame. Using the product too often, or leaving it on your teeth for longer than recommended, could very well cause damage to your tooth enamel.
Whitening Products To Avoid
There are lots of over-the-counter products available on the market, all promising whiter smiles. But, products containing acidic or abrasive products should always be avoided, because these are the products that can cause physical damage to your tooth enamel.
Even whitening toothpaste, gels and strips that contain natural ingredients like lemon juice, bicarbonate of soda, charcoal and other abrasives should be avoided. Avoid whitening kits that are available from pharmacies and spot correctors because, if they are compliant with local legislation, their concentration of bleaching agent is too low and ineffective to provide you with a noticeably whiter smile.
How Safe Is Teeth Whitening?
When performed by a qualified and experienced dentist, using an internationally renowned whitening brand, teeth whitening is considered safe.
Still wondering ‘is teeth whitening safe’ and whether Philips Zoom can give you a brighter smile? It’s always best to consult with a professional. Please contact our practice for a convenient appointment: (03) 9626 9581.
