Teeth whitening generally doesn’t conflict with oral health. Even when it does cause side effects, these tend to be very mild and temporary. However, things are different when you have cavities. In that case, whitening products could actually do more harm than good. As such, you should always get confirmation from a dentist before you whiten your teeth. Doing so could end up saving your smile! To learn more, here’s a summary of whitening’s effect on cavities and why to see your dentist first.
Teeth Whitening + Cavities = Bad Idea
As it turns out, cavities don’t mix well with whitening gels. The latter usually have hydrogen peroxide, a chemical that can upset overly sensitive teeth. If this substance gets inside a hole in your tooth, you’ll likely feel a lot of pain. In fact, the cavity-bleach combination sometimes permanently ruins teeth.
A similar danger applies to whitening a decayed tooth. When exposed dentin and nerves react to hydrogen peroxide, they can trigger strong sensitivity. If you whiten multiple teeth that suffer decay, chances are you’ll experience intense soreness for at least a few days.
See Your Dentist First
Given the facts above, you should visit your local dentist before receiving any tooth whitening — whether from strips, toothpaste, or trays. Even if you brush every day and don’t seem to have dental issues, getting an expert opinion beforehand is best.
If you’re lucky, you could get the green light from your dentist with a simple phone call. Depending on the circumstance, they may access your dental records and quickly recall the state of your oral health.
However, things will still turn out all right if they notice you have cavities or tooth decay. Should that happen, your dentist can provide the necessary fillings and cleaning. From there, you’ll be okay to schedule a whitening appointment or buy a take-home bleaching kit. Those are the two surest ways to a whiter smile; however, alternative options should also do the trick.
While teeth whitening is almost always safe, checking with a dentist first won’t hurt. That way, you can avoid a nasty combination of bleaching gel and cavities.
About the Practice
Winning Smile Dental Group is based in Evanston, IL. As led by Drs. Reese, Parker, and Baima, the practice takes an approach that considers oral and overall health. To that end, the staff offers preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency dental treatments. They’re also qualified to provide Invisalign clear aligners for orthodontics. For more information or to book an appointment, you can reach them at their website or by phone at (847)-350-1697.