Dangers of DIY Teeth Whitening

Everyone loves a bargain, so it’s no surprise that when looking to whiten their teeth, many people turn to do it yourself (DIY) products that claim to be as good as professional treatments. But the truth is, when it comes to getting a whiter, brighter smile, you get what you pay for. Here’s why those OTC (over the counter) teeth whitening kits aren’t as good of a deal as they seem.

The Dangers of DIY

Taking on a DIY project like painting a room or building a bird feeder can be a lot of fun, and even save you some money, too. But when it comes to whitening your teeth, it can be downright dangerous. Even though they may save you a few bucks up front, DIY tooth whitening kits can cost you a lot more in the end.

Chemical Burns

One of the easiest ways to injure yourself when whitening your smile is by accidentally getting the powerful chemicals on your gums, lips, tongue or cheeks. This can cause sensitivity and irritation, or even chemical burns if you’re not careful. Worse yet, they can even lead to gum infection if they’re not treated properly.

Longer Treatment Times

Are you trying to lighten discoloration in time for a special event? If you’re working with a tight deadline, OTC products may not be your best bet. Because storebought kits have diluted active ingredients, they typically take much longer to get noticeable results, meaning you’ll need to start your treatment much further out than you would with professional whitening. Worse yet, you can say goodbye to those so-called savings, because you’ll ultimately need to purchase more product to get even close to the same results as you would with professional whitening.

Extended Sensitivity

If you’re concerned about tooth sensitivity from whitening chemicals, DIY kits may seem like a good idea. After all, they do use diluted ingredients. But when you consider that you’ll need to use storebought products much longer than you would professional, you’ll see why this is a bad idea. While yes, professional whitening does use stronger bleach, you can achieve your smile goals in about an hour versus the months it could take with OTC products. That means you could experience sensitivity from DIY whitening for many months instead of just a few days!

Uneven Results

Another problem with OTC whitening is that because it’s sometimes difficult to apply the gels evenly without proper guidance, they often produce uneven results. This means your DIY product may cause you to end up with some teeth that are lighter than others, or teeth with uneven color, lighter spots, or discoloration around the edges!

The OTC Antidote

If you’re tired of wasting time and money on DIY teeth whitening kits that don’t do what they promise, here’s some great news. Professional teeth whitening from your dentist is available in both in-office treatments, and custom take-home kits. Whether you’re trying to brighten your smile for an upcoming event, or you’re fine taking about two weeks to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home, your dentist has a solution to the many problems that OTC whitening products can cause in an effort to be a so-called bargain.

About Dr. Marable

Dr. Ulysses L. Marable III earned his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture as an Animal Science Major. He then earned his DMD from the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry in Augusta and underwent his General Practice Residency at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center in Bronx, New York.  He has received in-depth training in dental implant planning and placement through Zimmer Biomet and the Trinnon Collegium Practicum. He is also a current member of the American Dental Association and Georgia Dental Association. If you’d like to learn more about how professional teeth whitening can help you, please schedule a consultation with Fantastic Smiles today by visiting our website or calling us at 478-825-3000.