Whitens teeth with tools that are sold in the market. is it safe?

Bright white teeth are everyone's dream. But to achieve this, most choose an instant method such as buying teeth whitening products at drug stores or in stores on line. Is it okay to whiten your teeth at home? Will the results be the same as when you whiten your teeth at the doctor?

The market whitening products contain low doses of hydrogen peroxide

Teeth whitening procedures at the dentist (whitening or bleaching) generally use a special gel containing hydrogen peroxide in high doses (about 10%). Tooth whitening gel is not sold freely and must be handled directly by the doctor concerned, it should not be used by just anyone.

Hydrogen peroxide in high doses will immediately work to break down and erode the colored plaque that sticks to the teeth, so that the teeth return to their original color.

However, currently on the market there are many teeth whitening products that contain hydrogen peroxide in lower doses. For example, whitening toothpaste, mouthwash whitening, whitening strips(gel-coated sheets affixed to rows of teeth), to a set of teeth whitening kits (home-bleaching kit) which is equipped with a medium dose of hydrogen peroxide gel preparation and a dental tray.

How to use home-bleaching kit mimicking the teeth whitening procedure at a dentist, by pouring gel into a dental mold and biting into the mold for 30 minutes. After that, take off and rinse your mouth as usual.

So, is it safe to whiten teeth at home?

The use of home teeth whitening products is safe as long as they are used in the right way, according to the instructions on the packaging label, and not excessive. To be safer, buy products that already have a BPOM license. For the record, until this article was written there was no whitening strips which are sold freely in Indonesia with a BPOM permit.

Is it effective?

In general, the various home methods for whitening teeth above are only able to improve the color of the teeth until the teeth are 1-2 levels brighter and the results will not last long. The reason is, the hydrogen peroxide content is small.

You will have to repeat the same procedure several times to get satisfactory results. Especially if at first your teeth are very dull in color. You need to be more active in whitening your teeth over and over again to make them appear brighter in color.

Conversely, the results of whitening teeth at the dentist through the bleaching procedure can be brighter and may not need to be done multiple times because it can last up to 1 year. Of course if you can really take care of your lifestyle.

What are the dangers of whitening teeth excessively?

Research shows that excessively whitening teeth (whether it's very frequent, in the long term, or using too high a dose of bleach) can erode tooth enamel, leaving teeth sensitive and prone to brittleness.

The higher the dose of bleaching agent used, the longer the teeth are exposed to these chemicals, and the more often the teeth are whitened, the risk increases. Research has also shown that doses of hydrogen peroxide in excess of 10% can cause skin irritation and a burning sensation when touched directly on the skin.

Another danger that can arise in using a home teeth whitening procedure custom tray is if tray does not fit the shape of your teeth. This can cause gum irritation and there is a risk of ingesting the gel.

What are the taboos that should be avoided after using teeth whitener?

As much as possible avoid consumption of colored foods and drinks, such as tea and coffee, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks such as wine a week after whitening your teeth. Stop smoking after whitening your teeth. Smoking can make teeth turn yellow.

Then the most important thing is to brush your teeth twice a day, in the morning and at night. If necessary, use a whitening toothpaste and mouthwash. Whitening toothpaste can help maintain tooth color after processingbleachingat the doctor.

Moreover, it is done continuously so that the white color can last up to 1 year or even more.

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