Everyone wants that pearly white teeth, but because of our lifestyle, habits and even genetics, our teeth tends to discolor. That’s why most people resort to buying toothpastes that contain whitening solutions for your teeth or even straight-up whitening products for your teeth. So the questions is; are these over the counter teeth whitening products safe?

Aside from toothpastes, there are more products that are used for teeth whitening such as teeth whitening kits, strips, self-bleaching (rather than going to the dentist), activated charcoal, whitening pen, gels, and more. Some people will do anything to whiten their teeth in a cheap way. The question is, is it safe?

What are Over the Counter Whitening Kits?

We’ll start off with one of the most famous teeth whitening products these days, especially for millennials. You can see this as ads on different social media platforms and are used by many social media influencers. This way of teeth whitening can be done at home for 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the instructions. These over the counter whitening kits usually contain moldable mouth trays, bleaching gel, LED light, which is attached to the mouth tray and a set of instructions.

Peroxide is usually the ingredient being used at home whitening products. Dentists do not approve the use of these kinds of teeth whitening products at home if it is not under their supervision.

How About Activated Charcoal, Whitening Pens and Strips?

Activated Charcoal is the reheated and oxidized version of charcoal that you use to ignite fire. Dentists warn that this can damage the enamel. Although manufacturers claim that activated charcoal can kill bacteria and absorb bad odor, it is still upon research to this day. Whitening pens are thin plastic tubes that have whitening gel inside. It has different chemical concentrations, but with excessive use, this might harm or damage your enamel. It is still better to consult your dentist.

Whitening Strips are strips that are filled with gel, and is placed on your teeth. You may not know what chemicals could be in the gel, so it is better to consult your dentist first.

Now we answer the question, are they safe?

With dentist supervision, they are safe. Dentists say that over the counter products without their supervision could damage your teeth. According to Dr. Gerry Curatola of the Rejuvenation Dentistry in New York City, some products use too much concentration of the bleaching agent which is a form of hydrogen peroxide.

Some teeth whitening products can be acidic and can cause damage to the tissues on the mouth, gums , tongue, and throat.

The products that are not approved by your dentist can harm your teeth’s mineralization and enamel. Over bleaching can cause your teeth to have a fluorescent blue hue when it is being used too much.

It is recommended that you consult your dentist before doing any home teeth whitening procedures. Keep in mind that dentists can detect things inside your mouth, teeth, gums, and other related areas that you may not notice or see. So, you just have to let them guide and supervise you with your teeth concerns.

For best results, try the ZOOM Teeth Whitening that will give you instant results that won’t disappoint you. Visit our dental clinic in Manila or our branches in Calasiao and Lingayen, Pangasinan. You may also contact us today for your inquiries and concerns!