Teeth Whitening

Do Teeth Whiteners Damage Tooth Enamel?

Tooth enamel is the hardest substance found in the human body, but this does not mean that it is impossible to damage. The tooth enamel is the part of the tooth, which is visible in a healthy tooth. Enamel naturally varies in color between individuals, from a light yellow color to a grey or white color. The color typically changes over time, as the teeth may be stained by food, drink and smoking. The teeth also tend to become less white as part of the natural aging process. Teeth whitening products may be used to make the teeth appear whiter and brighter, but there has been some concern over the possibility that these products may be having a detrimental effect on the tooth enamel.

The effects of teeth whitening products on tooth enamel depend upon the types of products which are being used. The two main methods of tooth whitening are through chemical action and through mechanical action.

A chemical teeth whitener uses bleaching agents such as carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide to induce an oxidation reaction in the teeth. This reaction can bleach or whiten stains in the teeth, and it can also make the teeth more reflective, which makes them appear brighter. This type of teeth whitening should not cause any damage to the structure of the tooth enamel, but teeth whiteners that have a low pH can be harmful to the enamel. They can increase the chances that the enamel will decay or be demineralized. Teeth whitening products which have a very acidic pH should therefore be used with extreme caution. Scientific studies have proven that teeth whiteners which contain 10 percent concentrations of carbamide peroxide do not harm the tooth enamel. The effects of this bleaching agent on the tooth enamel were minimal or non-existent in the people who were studied. It is believed that acidic fruits and fruit juices can actually be more harmful to the tooth enamel than most teeth whitening products.

However, it is important to ensure that the teeth whitener product, which is selected is a safe one. Dentists should be able to provide safe treatments, or advice on the selection of a suitable home teeth whitening product. There have been cases in which unsafe over the counter products have resulted in damage to the tooth enamel. These unsafe products contain higher levels of peroxide or bleaching agents than most other teeth whiteners, or the pH of the pre-rinse or the teeth whitener itself may be too acidic. The effects of these unsafe products on tooth enamel are irreversible. Once the enamel has been damaged, it cannot be repaired. The dental treatment, which is required to treat this type of damage is extensive and expensive. It is, therefore, important to choose the right teeth whitening product, for example by checking the concentration of the bleaching agent in the product.

Other teeth whitening products use mechanical action to whiten the teeth. These types of products are typically whitening toothpastes. Rather than bleaching the teeth, they contain mild abrasives which can help remove stains from the surface of the teeth. The underlying color of the tooth enamel is not changed. These types of teeth whitening products are considered safe because they do not affect the underlying tooth enamel. However, if the abrasives are too strong, it could damage the enamel. Most whitening toothpastes are mild enough to be safe.

As long as a safe product is used correctly, teeth whiteners do not result in any significant damage to the tooth enamel. There is also no evidence that teeth whitening products damage the nerves of the teeth, or damage any dental restorations such as fillings or crowns.