Everyone wants a healthy smile with sparkling white teeth, especially those of us who live in Fullerton, California. But when it comes to teeth whitening, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. Dr. Real, your Fullerton dentist, believes whitening can lead to sensitivity of teeth and gums—anything from simple tingling to hair-raising bolts of pain. Consider the following rules of thumb to ensure your whitening efforts keep your teeth and gums healthy and pain free.
- Show restraint. There’s white and there’s blindingly white. Choose the former.
- Consider age and pregnancy. Whitening is not recommended for children under 16 and women who are pregnant or nursing.
- Consider previous dental work. Composite fillings, crowns, veneers—usually colored to match your teeth at the time of the dental work, these surfaces cannot be whitened by existing whiteners. Mismatched teeth might be more unsightly than uniformly yellow teeth.
- Consider ongoing dental issues. In cases of gum disease, worn tooth enamel, or untreated cavities, tooth whitening is discouraged. Whitening in such circumstance can lead to unwanted pain.
- Consider reducing your treatments. Using less concentrated products or fewer applications of higher concentrated products will help prevent tooth and gum pain.
- Make Lifestyle Changes. Try preventing tooth discoloration before it gets worse. Avoiding smoking and foods and drinks known to discolor teeth will go a long (and pain free) way towards maintaining your healthy smile. If you can’t resist coffee, wine, blueberries and other staining treats, remember to brush after indulging.