Does Teeth Whitening Destroy Enamel?

What Is Teeth Whitening?

It is a procedure for bleaching your teeth to make them lighter, brighter, and whiter. People have coined various approaches for lightening teeth, sometimes without incorporating a dental expert’s help.

Unfortunately, not all teeth whitening procedures are effective for whitening teeth or even safe enough for your enamels. Ultimately, professional teeth whitening at Sanborn Dental Associates (Boelter & Gross) is the best idea you may make for improving your smile’s appearance.

Is Teeth Whitening Safe for My Enamel?

Enamel-safe teeth whitening in Sanborn is only available if you get it done in a dental office. It does not destroy your enamel. Every other attempt to whiten your teeth at home exposes your teeth to high concentrations of bleachers, unsafe for your teeth.

Professional teeth whitening employs lightening products containing one of two tooth bleaches; hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. The choice bleach will break stains into smaller pieces, dissipating them to whiten your teeth color. The primary focus of the procedure is dentin, which is responsible for teeth color.

Besides, a dentist will use a protective gel or a rubber shield to protect your gums from the effects of bleaching products.

Why Is Tooth Enamel Important?

The enamel makes up the external framework of a natural tooth. Its primary role is to protect the inner layers of teeth from damage. The enamel is a hard exterior, while the underlying tooth layers are sensitive and delicate. Without the enamel, your teeth would sustain many infections and damage.

Further, the enamel maintains the brightness of your teeth. Once damaged, it impacts various aspects of your smile.

Protecting the tooth enamel is crucial because it protects the rest of your tooth structure, but also that it cannot regrow. The reason is that the enamel does not comprise living cells.

Therefore, once it gets damaged, it cannot regrow. You can only consider dental restorations to replace the enamel.

What to Do When Your Teeth’ Enamel Is Reduced?

Over time, if you are not intentional with dental care, your enamel can suffer significant damage. Besides discoloration, the most common problem with the enamel is wearing down.

Your enamel can erode or reduce over time if the acids in your mouth are out of control. Acid erosion is the primary cause of reduced enamel, particularly from the high intake of acid-based foods like oranges, sodas, coffee, wines, and tomatoes.

Other factors that can damage tooth enamel are:

1. Poor oral hygiene – allowing plaque and tartar to remain on teeth’ surfaces.
2. Dental trauma – accidents and injuries can crack, chip, or break enamels.
3. Bruxism – is a condition featuring excessive teeth grinding at night.
4. Aging – the older you get, the more your enamel wears down due to usage.
5. Abrasion – if you use a hard-bristled toothbrush or exercise too much force when brushing your teeth, it can erode the enamel.

When you notice that your enamel is eroded, determine to talk to a dentist immediately. Various treatment protocols apply uniquely based on the degree of enamel erosion.

Some of the treatment options you can consider to help restore your eroded or damaged tooth enamel are:

1. Get fluoride treatment
2. Visit your dentist regularly for teeth cleaning
3. Get dental sealants for the back teeth
4. Consider composite bonding – it repairs the damaged portions of your tooth enamel.
5. Get dental crowns or veneers – they replace severely damaged enamel.
6. Get a night guard for teeth grinding.

Other times, the dentist will recommend some lifestyle changes. These adjustments will be crucial whether you undergo the above-mentioned treatments or not.

They include:

1. Quit smoking and all other tobacco usage.
2. Quit taking alcohol
3. Take milk or bite on cheese after every meal – to reduce acidity in your mouth
4. Drink a lot of water – to overcome a dry mouth and boost your saliva’s ability to neutralize acids in the mouth.
5. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and be gentle when brushing your teeth.
6. Reduce the intake of foods high in sugar, acids, and starches.
7. Use straws when drinking acidic drinks
8. Use fluoride toothpaste to keep your teeth strong and increase their resistance to dental cavities.