There’s such a thing as too much of a good thing. Are white teeth a great cosmetic way to easily shave years off of your appearance? Absolutely! But can too much bleach on your teeth damage the enamel that protects you from tooth decay, or even irritate your fragile gum tissue? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Like most good things in life, balance is important. Your Deerfield dentist, Dr. Brent Engelberg, would like to warn patients about whitening teeth with too much frequency.
Why Do We Bleach Teeth?
With teeth bleaching, chemicals are only applied to the surfaces of the teeth, so how could they harm the internal structure? While it’s true that stains on teeth are generally extrinsic (on the surface) due to the consumption of coffee, tea, tobacco, and various dark colored foods and drinks, your enamel can be temporarily or permanently damaged by acid. Professional whitening treatments are designed to make most patients feel great about the way their smile looks. However, if taken too far, you may not be happy with the way your smile feels.
Symptoms from Too Much Whitening
Once you have whitened your teeth, you should consider avoiding the foods, beverages, and/or habits that might contribute to deep staining all over again. However, teeth whitening isn’t preventive dentistry. If you whiten too soon after a strong bleaching treatment, a number of unpleasant symptoms could be the result. Teeth could become irritated due to overexposure to bleaching gels. Any product (even if recommended by your dentist) which contains chemicals, needs to be moderated. Tooth enamel erosion – can also ensue from too much bleaching, which will make you more susceptible to decay. You can also end up with sensitivity. When the bundles of nerves inside your teeth are exposed, your smile could become hypersensitivity to extreme temperatures.
Teeth Whitening from Deerfield Dentist
Your dentist in Deerfield offers both in-office professional bleaching, and at-home bleaching maintenance kits. With Dr. Engelberg’s expertise, you should be able to obtain a bright, white smile without the issues of overdoing it. You can reach our 60015 dentist office at 847-259-8030. We are happy to serve patients in Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, Northwest Chicago Suburbs, and Northern Chicago Suburbs.
