Does whitening teeth cause damage on the long run? How?

tooth whitening is aka bleaching of the tooth. this can be to either restore the natural tooth colour/shade or beyond its natural shade.

sometimes there maybe stains and plaque which picks up the colour of the regular food or drink we consume daily eg tea tobacco wine etc

this involves stripping the enamel which is the protective layer of the tooth thereby exposing dentine 

which may lead to dentinal sensitivity, hypersensitivity because the low ph of bleach opens up the dentinal tubules

irritaton of the gum may also be caused by the corrosive agent used to the mucous  membrane causing burning sensation and tissue damage

Before going ahead with the teeth whitening procedure dental history is very important, does the patient has sensitive teeth, are the teeth prone to caries , are there any anteior restorations. because all these can increase the sensitivity to such an extent that you may have to go for root canal procedure and crown over it. But if there is no history of such things then tooth whitening is a safe procedure in which mild senitivity may develop which reduces with pro sensitive tooth paste in2 or3 days

Consulting with your dentist before you participate in teeth whitening is a wise move. Not all whitening treatments will work, especially if you have coverings to your teeth, such as porcelain veneers. The bleaching agents in whiteners will not affect these materials and there will be noticeable discoloration between dental coverings and whitened teeth.

You should trust your dentist to help you keep your teeth white and bright! Their professional guidance will direct you to the most effective whitening treatment for your teeth and save you the risk of doing damage and having to live with the painful or unsightly consequences.

Written by: Carefree Dental | Published On: March 26, 2015

One of the latest must-have celebrity fads to catch on isn’t your regular fashion accessory. In recent years, teeth whitening treatments have seen a rise in popularity as fans try to match the pearly whites of their favorite stars. However, the pursuit of the perfect smile could be doing long term damage to your teeth. Here we cover the facts surrounding teeth whitening and look into the possible side effects.

Unfortunately, it just isn’t normal for teeth to have a perfectly white appearance. As we age, teeth tend to naturally darken from the inside and when combined with bad habits, such as prolonged use of tobacco and drinking coffee excessively, your teeth can easily become discolored.

Lack of oral hygiene can also contribute to staining of your teeth, as the build-up of plaque leads to tartar formation. Once formed on the surface of the tooth, this sticky, brown substance cannot be removed by the soft bristles of your toothbrush and will require dental treatment for removal.

For those that have a less than perfect shade of white, it can be tempting to try teeth whitening treatments sold at drug stores and grocery stores. However, caution is strongly advised. These cheaper alternatives could end up costing you a lot more in the end and leave you with brittleness and sensitivity problems.

Not all whitening products will successfully lighten teeth and issues can arise if a product is used more often than recommended by the manufacturer or by your dentist (assuming you asked for the advice of your dentist in the first place).

The major active ingredient in most store-bought teeth whitening products is carbamide peroxide which, when dissolved in water, breaks down into hydrogen peroxide, a bleaching agent. Regular bleaching of your teeth using products containing this chemical can strip away the lighter enamel and lead to painful side effects as well as a blotchy appearance by exposing the darker dentin below.

Worn enamel makes teeth more brittle, leaving them more susceptible to cracking or chipping. In extreme cases of enamel erosion, teeth can even become flexible and bend when pressure is applied. Without the protective enamel coating, your teeth will also become more sensitive, even to the point where you have to avoid eating certain foods such as ice cream.

A large body of research on bleaching has determined that low concentrations of peroxide, from a reputable source, are safe if used as directed, after a proper dental examination. However, tooth sensitivity is a common side effect of bleaching. Solutions that are more acidic can etch the enamel from the teeth, especially if used for long periods of time, so are to be avoided. The most common and thoroughly researched bleaching substances are 10% carbamide peroxide (used at home in mouth trays) and 35% hydrogen peroxide (used in a dentist's office). Carbamide peroxide is actually hydrogen peroxide plus urea. Carbamide peroxide products remain active longer — for up to 10 hours and lessen acidity to a level where the enamel is not affected and the person cannot get tooth decay. Hydrogen peroxide may come in stronger concentrations, but only stays active for up to an hour and is more acidic, so should not remain on the teeth for extensive lengths of time. There are carbamide peroxide materials for both at home and in the office treatment, as well as hydrogen peroxide materials for in the office and at home treatment. The concentrations vary, and determine the treatment time and technique. Also, if a high concentration of material is being used, your dentist must take steps to protect your gums from coming into contact with it. Since peroxide even at a low concentration can burn inflamed gum tissue, your gums need to be healthy prior to bleaching. Waiting two weeks after having the teeth cleaned is advisable, as well as using a soft toothbrush with the appropriate brushing (not scrubbing!) technique

Yes, because the solution using on tooth whitening are very strong penetrates and becomes the enamel thin that causing more sensitivity tooth this may lead if the condition of the tooth is prone to caries and before the tooth had check has already sensitivity so it is important to check well first before do the procedure if it is really indicated for  tooth  whitening.

this will be depending on the materials used for bleaching ,concentration ,dentist experiance and patient selection.

for me i don't like to go through bleaching proceduers in short periods for the same patient .

in long run it well affect the enaml and teeth sensitivity,discoloration will be a major problems.

Yes, it affects the enamel of tooth very little but it's not harmful. However, if teeth whitening is performed frequently without certain time interval then there might be a possibility of loss of enamel and thus anyone may suffer from sensitivity.

yes ,on a long run tooth whitening will damage the tooth.regular bleaching with products containing hydrogen peroxide will strip away the enamel leding to sever sensitivity ,erosion of tooth ,it can also damage the inflamed gum tissues.

Yes, whitening of the teeth can cause damage in the long run. If it is continous it can cause eroding of the enamel which is the protective coat of the teath thereby exposing the underlaying struture (dentine) which is a more sensitive component of the teath

The acid in whitening chemical may demineralised enamel and cause sensitivity.

YES in long run teeth whitening may lead to increase in teeth sensitivity as whitening leads to removal of enamel layer which further leads to opening of dentinal tubules leading to hypersensitivity.

It eventually strips the enamal of the teeth