Dental Health Week 5-11 August 2019 – Thursday

Tooth whitening is a big part of cosmetic dentistry. Like a lot of health related items there are lots of products available on the internet. But are they safe?

Tooth whitening is a treatment to lighten stained or discoloured teeth.

Over the counter, and internet, products are available but they come with risks. Your dentist is the best person to speak to before commencing any bleaching treatment. Why?? For the simple reason that you teeth are priceless.  If you damage this set, they don’t grow back.

You may be tempted to go to a shopping centre booth or a beautician to get your teeth whitened, but neither are staffed by suitably qualified personnel. Incorrect use of bleaching agents may cause irreversible damage to your teeth and gums. DIY bleaching comes with all sorts of risks, and anecdotal treatments such as rubbing strawberries, lemons, or even bicarbonate of soda on your teeth, can do a lot of damage to your teeth and gums for no real whitening gain.

What about products from the internet?

Australia regulates the amount of hydrogen peroxide in products. This is not the case for all countries. While it may be tempting to say that the more hydrogen peroxide the better this is not the case. Teeth and gums can be damaged by high levels of hydrogen peroxide leading to sensitive teeth and painful blisters.

There has been a rise in the advertising of charcoal products. We recommend you avoid these products for the same reasons as those that contain hydrogen peroxide.  What this recent episode of The Project for more information.

If you are in doubt about a product you have seen advertised, or endorsed by a celebrity, don’t use it!

At Canberra Dental Care we offer tooth whitening services. We assess you needs and provide a professional opinion about the treatment options.

So this Dental Health Week 5-11 August 2019 – Thursday make an appointment to talk about the options available.