Have you started to notice discoloration in your smile during COVID-19? Learn from a certified Calgary dentist whether whitening your teeth at home is risky business or safe to go ahead with.
Various methods of in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatments have become increasingly popularized in recent years. Although most of our teeth are generally white overall, our tooth enamel becomes more and more discoloured over time for various reasons. With the severity of the pandemic still upon us, many clients at our Calgary dental clinic location have inquired whether it is safe to proceed with whitening their teeth at home. If you are questioning this, stick around and find out the answer to this question from one of our Calgary dentist specialists.
What causes tooth discoloration?
Before we get into our teeth whitening discussion, let’s quickly review some causes of tooth discoloration that may occur on particular teeth or throughout your entire smile:
- Drinks such as red wine, tea, and coffee.
- The tar and nicotine found in tobacco.
- When you age, the dentin, located directly beneath the tooth, begins to get more yellow as your tooth enamel becomes thinner.
- If you have ever suffered trauma to your mouth area, you may have disrupted blood flow to your teeth which will cause it to slowly decay over time.
- Medications including some brands of high blood pressure prescriptions, antihistamines and antipsychotics.
Teeth Whitening Selections
Now that we understand the cause of tooth discoloration, let’s take a quick look at the tooth whitening options clients have available to them:
- Teeth whitening toothpaste works to fade the discoloration on the surface of your teeth. It is considered to be the mildest method of teeth whitening procedures available.
- Whitening strips, lights and trays that work to lighten the tooth enamel.
- In-house at a Calgary dental clinic that is performed by a professional.
Is it safe to whiten your teeth at home during COVID-19?
Generally speaking, clients should not worry about any health concerns when whitening their teeth at home. That being said, you may experience some side effects depending on the type of at-home treatment you decided to use, including extreme tooth sensitivity and irritated gums. This typically occurs when whitening products contain chlorine dioxide, which has the potential of damaging and diminishing the layer of tooth enamel on your teeth, which causes sensitivity.
While not all at-home teeth whitening solutions utilize chlorine dioxide, it is recommended that you check the label to see the listed ingredients. Keep the whitening strips on for the amount indicated on the product box, but no longer. As a Calgary dentist professional, it is understandable that clients may wish to use multiple treatments on their teeth to speed the process along. However, we do not recommend you do so, as it may cause harm to your gum tissues and lead you to have severe sensitivity.
Final Thoughts
All in all, clients can safely whiten their teeth at home without any severe health concerns. If you are, however, looking for a Calgary dentist that operates out of a Calgary dental clinic to provide you with a professional teeth whitening service, we are currently open and operating in accordance with COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
For more information, contact our Calgary dental clinic
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