Can Whitening Strips Damage Your Teeth?

A smile can say a lot about your personality. For a perfect smile, you don’t need to have perfectly aligned teeth, but you definitely need to ensure that your teeth are sparkling white. Unfortunately, there are many things that can dull your teeth and your smile. Caffeine, cigarettes, dietary choices and various diseases can cause yellow or stained teeth.

Fortunately, there are many teeth whitening methods that are fast gaining popularity such as whitening strips which are widely available at local drugstores. The real question is whether whitening strips are effective and safe in the long run.

What Are Teeth Whitening Strips?
Teeth-whitening strips are easy to use, convenient and affordable. However, symptoms like pain in the gums and teeth and increased sensitivity are common amongst people who use whitening strips. Furthermore, the effects of whitening strips are not long lasting.

Word of Advice: Use Them Right
Whitening strips should only be used according to the instructions. Any deviation while using whitening strips can lead to pain, gum irritation and increased sensitivity. Furthermore, it is important to note that frequent use of whitening strips can damage your teeth in the long run.

Possible Side Effects
Frequent use of whitening strips can cause your teeth to become porous and damages the tooth enamel as well as the tissue under the gums. Excessive use of whitening strips will also cause the teeth to turn translucent instead of white.

When the enamel chips off your teeth due to the chemicals in the whitening strips, your teeth become weak and some may even fall out. Hence, frequent use of whitening strips is not advised. The chemical responsible for most of the damage is hydrogen peroxide, which is harmful for both your gums and your teeth. Side-effects like pain and increased sensitivity may fade away with time after you are finished with the treatment, but the damage can be long term.