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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

4 Ways to Rescue Your Teeth from Over-Bleaching

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When you look in the mirror and see how dramatically teeth whitening treatments have brightened your smile, the results can be exhilarating. For some people, the thrill of seeing their teeth get amazingly white becomes habit forming.

Photo of teeth whitening trays in a case, for information on DIY teeth whitening from Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Teeth whitening should be carefully monitored

If you received teeth whitening from your dentist, you were probably advised to use it for about two weeks and to wait before starting another session to allow the color to stabilize. But what if you continue bleaching your teeth for weeks, even months? Or what if you are whitening your teeth over and over again without a dentist’s supervision? Although you may not notice how much whiter your teeth are getting, they can become sensitive and brittle.

What Can You Do to Protect Your Teeth?

  1. Take a break. Stop whitening your teeth and give them time to recover. After you stop whitening treatment, the shade of your teeth will continue to brighten over the next few days. Give your teeth and gums time to recover. Irritated nerves can become less sensitive if they are not in contact with the bleaching gel. And irritated gum tissue can heal.
  2. Switch your toothpaste. Daily use toothpaste for sensitive teeth. It penetrates the tiny holes in your teeth and blocks the nerves to decrease sensitivity.
  3. Tell your dentist. You might be embarrassed to tell your dentist about your teeth whitening habit. But your dentist can examine your teeth and let you know if there is any external or internal damage to your teeth. He or she can provide treatment to protect your teeth from further damage. Prescription fluoride treatment or toothpaste might be recommended to strengthen your teeth.
  4. You should avoid whitening your teeth without your dentist’s approval. It’s possible to resume teeth whitening too soon. Just because your teeth feel better doesn’t mean it’s safe to use bleaching gel on them. Your dentist will let you know when, how, and how frequently you should use the gel.

 

Accredited cosmetic dentist Michael Szarek, DMD of Lowell, MA sponsors this blog.

3 Reasons to Stop Whitening Your Teeth

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Teeth whitening provides a fast smile makeover. If your teeth are healthy and basically aligned, this treatment might be all you need to revive your smile. But too much of a good thing—including teeth whitening—can do more harm than good. What do we mean?

Teeth Whitening – When Enough Is Enough

1. You’re Trying to Whiten Bonding, Crowns, or Veneers

Bleaching gel penetrates natural teeth, but it won’t remove stains from porcelain restorations or cosmetic bonding. Your natural teeth will get white, but the stains on your bonded or restored teeth won’t budge. There will be a noticeable difference between your natural teeth and those with bonding, veneers, or crowns. Stop whitening and see a cosmetic dentist.

If your bonding, crowns, or veneers are stained, a skilled cosmetic dentist will recommend the appropriate treatment to improve the appearance of the restorations. It might be time to replace them.

2. You Have Cavities or Gum Disease

Photo of teeth whitening trays in a case, for information on DIY teeth whitening from Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Teeth whitening trays keep gel on your teeth

Bleaching gel will become an irritant if you have cavities or gum disease. As the gel seeps into the affected areas, you can develop an infection in your gums or teeth. Infected gums will need to be treated, and an infected tooth might need root canal treatment.

3. You’re Obsessed with It

Do you think your teeth are never white enough and you keep bleaching them over and over again? Stop. If you’re addicted to whitening your teeth, it can make them brittle and sensitive. They can become transparent or look gray in color. The pearly whites you always wanted can become totally unattractive. And with excess bleaching, the chemicals can burn your gums. Both your teeth and gums will become unsightly.

If you continue to damage your teeth with bleaching gel, it might require cosmetic dentistry and gum treatment to restore your oral health.

What’s Next?

Dentist-supervised whitening yields the best results. If you decide to completely do it yourself, avoid cheap whitening gel. Ensure the contents of the gel are FDA approved. And whiten your teeth as instructed. If your teeth are already damaged by over-bleaching, schedule an appointment for an exam with a cosmetic dentist. Prompt treatment can prevent any issues from getting worse, and it can save you money in the long term.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Three Results of Overdoing Teeth Whitening Treatment

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Photo of teeth whitening trays in a case, for information on DIY teeth whitening from Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Safe and effective teeth whitening is dentist supervised

Most people would welcome the chance to have a whiter, brighter smile. But in the quest to get their teeth super white, some people use bleaching gel over and over again. Is it possible to over bleach your teeth?

Teeth whitening can be fun and rewarding. But overdoing it can lead to sensitivity, pain, and some surprising but disappointing results. What are the effects of overdoing it?

Results of Whitening Your Teeth Too Frequently

  • Tooth roots – Excessive teeth whitening can damage teeth and their roots. When teeth are whitened too frequently, damage to the tissue around them can create the need for root canal treatment. Also, too much whitening gel can cause chemical burns on your gums.
  • Tooth enamel – Excessive bleaching can wear away tooth enamel and give your teeth a gray or blue hue. You can lose your super white teeth and cause them to turn dark and unattractive. In severe cases, cosmetic dentistry will be needed to conceal the dark color.
  • Sensitivity in teeth – Some people who over-bleach their teeth have difficulty tolerating cold or hot food or drinks. Tooth nerves can become irritated and send radiating pain throughout your teeth.

It is always best to check with your dentist before whitening your teeth. If you have cavities developing, the gel can irritate them. And in some cases, teeth whitening will make stains on your teeth even more noticeable.

A cosmetic dentist can examine your teeth and anticipate the effects of the bleaching gel on your teeth and gums and let you know if it’s the right treatment for you.

Everyone who whitens their teeth without the assistance of a dentist should take the necessary precautions to ensure the whitening gel used is FDA approved and not a cheap knock-off that will damage teeth.

 

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Teeth whitening scam with crazy shipping charges

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Every now and then I search for deals on teeth whitening. I finally found one that sounded good. It was for a month trial of whitening and all I had to do was pay shipping and handling. The cost for shipping was posted on the website as $9.99. I thought that was pretty expensive but compared to free whitening I thought it was nothing. Within the last 2 months, I’ve received 3 charges for shipping and handling, but I still don’t have the whitening kit. My credit card company is investigating it now. I just want to know where I can get legitimate, free teeth whitening trials. Do you have any recommendations? Todd

Todd – We’re sorry to hear about your experience. Unfortunately, it is common. There are some risks that come with getting free teeth whitening online. What should you consider?

Beware of Getting Free Teeth Whitening Online

  • Source – On the website, instead of a business address, there is usually only a toll-free number or a contact form if you need to speak with someone at the company. The website probably doesn’t tell you the source of the whitening. If you call the company, you are unlikely to find out exactly where the whitening kit was made.
  • Contents – How do you know if the syringes really contain bleaching gel? Some consumers have found out that the contents were either ineffective or harmful to their teeth.
  • Results – If what you receive isn’t bleaching gel, either it won’t work, it can harm or discolor your teeth, or it can burn your teeth, gums, or other oral tissue.

If your dentist doesn’t offer free teeth whitening, ask for a payment plan to make it more affordable for you. It’s best to receive quality bleaching gel, along with supervision from your dentist. You’ll get predictable results that will last.

 

This post is sponsored by Lowell cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

What kind of teeth whitening will help my veneers?

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My veneers are turning yellow. I have only had them 4 years. This is really weird to me and I am not getting straight answers from the dentist who put them on. Since they started turning yellow I asked him if they are really porcelain. His answer was a fast “of course they are.” I don’t believe it. I know veneers aren’t supposed to stain and I don’t have any habits that would make them stain. I don’t smoke or drink alcohol, coffee, or tea. Nor am I eating anything that would make them stain like this. So now I am down to trying to get the veneers to at least lighten in color a bit. I have tried whitening strips and I bought some Opalescence gel online but there is no change in the color. What kind of teeth whitening will help my veneers? Thanks. Diana

Diana – There is no form of teeth whitening that will brighten your veneers. Porcelain veneers are colorfast. Although you suspect that your veneers are not made of porcelain, the material they are made of isn’t responding to teeth whitening.

You can find out whether or not your veneers are porcelain by visiting an experienced cosmetic dentist. But the dentist won’t be able to change the color. At times, the condition or color of natural teeth beneath the veneers can cause them to look darker. If that’s not true in your case, it is possible that a skilled cosmetic dentist can polish the veneers and make them look better. Otherwise, your solution is to replace them.

Photo of a porcelain veneer, which cannot be whitened, held against a natural tooth for Lowell, MA cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek

Porcelain veneers are bonded to your natural teeth. They are colorfast and cannot be whitened.

Quality porcelain veneers can last ten to twenty years or longer. They will remain white if you properly care for them at home, and only have your veneers and teeth cleaned by a dentist and hygienist who have been trained to clean veneers.

Whenever you decide to replace your veneers find a talented, accredited cosmetic dentist to do the work. Accredited cosmetic dentists have received extensive training in aesthetic dentistry (making your teeth look beautiful, not just functional), and they have passed exams and submitted patient cases to demonstrate their expertise. You’ll get the smile you want, and it will last.

This post is sponsored by Lowell accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.