In the quest for beauty, many people are choosing to have their teeth whitened by the dentists or with home whitening products.

The method of teeth whitening and home teeth whitening was first presented around 1989, giving the medical and consumer health awareness communities enough time to judge its effectiveness and safety. Generally, the teeth whitening process has been given a good report in regards to both safety and effectiveness.

There are several issues that you should keep in mind when considering teeth whitening:

Both medical and consumer communities have raised some concerns about the risks involved with bleaching. Some bleaching agents may pose cancer-causing risks.

However, studies have demonstrated that the concentration of carbamide peroxide in teeth whitening does not cause any cancer in mouth tissue or gums. As a matter of fact, there is an agent in saliva that seems to offset the amount of peroxide given off by the teeth whitening agents.

Consideration and attention has also been given to the fear of bleaching agents causing a tooth’s enamel to wear off or be damaged. After careful study, the medical experts now say that more damage is done to a tooth’s enamel by soft drinks or fruit juices than tooth whitening bleach.

There is concern about possible damage to nerve endings. These studies are in their primary stages, as proper testing cannot be done until five to eight years following the initial whitening process. In those who have completed the five to eight year tests, there appears to have been little damage caused by teeth whitening.

While it isn’t possible to have teeth whitening done if you have caps or crowns on your teeth it is possible to undergo the procedure if you have had simple fillings or root canal procedures. So far the dental histories have not shown any problems from this procedure, but studies are still in their infancy.

While the above mentioned studies are valid and accurate it is still best to consult with your dental health professional to decide your best course of action.

Your personal dental history is unique, so studies that support teeth whitening in certain situations it may still pose specific risks for you. Don’t take any unnecessary risks just for the sake of appearances.

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