“Yellow teeth bad, white teeth good. Yellow teeth bad, white teeth good.”
Sound like something you say in your head when looking at your discolored chompers in the mirror? From on-the-go strips to in-office bleaching, teeth whitening solutions have become easier and more convenient than ever before. However, overdoing them can put your teeth at risk for other issues, some of which can become permanent and do the opposite of giving you a beautiful smile. The lesson is to know how much is too much.
It’s said that teeth-whitening protocols greatly vary from person to person based on their starting tooth color and everyday diet. Yet, there are two stages that apply to everyone: initial whitening and regular maintenance. For the basic tooth whitening products, it is important to follow the recommendation of your dentist or over-the-counter system for as long as it takes to reach your desired shade of whiteness. Once you’ve reached that shade, you are in the maintenance stage of whitening, and that is where it becomes very individualized based on your desired whiteness, diet and home care.
Some folks will only need touch-ups once every few months, while others will need to do them every few weeks to maintain their white smile. People who love their coffee, cola’s or dark beverages, in general, may need to whiten more frequently than others. For in-office bleaching’s it’s recommended a yearly treatment at most. At-home bleach treatments can be used daily, but for no more than two consecutive weeks.
So, what are some definite signs that you’re over-whitening? Luckily there are three red flags: tooth sensitivity, especially to cold; inflamed or bleeding gum lines, and teeth that look blue or see-through along the edges. The scary face is that if these warning signs go untreated, it can lead to crucial nerve damage in your teeth, thinning of your enamel and burning of your gums. When damage becomes too severe, your dentist may not have a way to reverse it.
