Are over the counter teeth whitening products safe to use?

Want to make sure that all the stains from your teeth are gone? Well, with so many over the counter products, it seems easier than ever to get the glistening pearly white teeth you’ve been looking for. It is not unknown that these over the counter products have gotten better with time and some of them have proved to be efficient too. 

Some teeth whitening products are also prescribed by your dentist and have proven to remove stains when applied correctly in the correct amount. All of these teeth whiteners have the active ingredients present in the washes and polishes used by the Dentist. Yet, ideally, these active ingredients are in lesser amounts in over the counter products. The active ingredients present are hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, where the former is the stronger of the two ingredients. Yet to see how safe they are there are several precautions you will need to keep in mind. 

What are the common over-the-counter whitening products used widely?

• Whitening strips – This is by far the most popular type of over the counter whitening product and is very convenient to use. They also help to lighten any kind of stains on the teeth to an extent.
• Bleach trays – Although the trays can get really uncomfortable, many people prefer bleaching. One needs to maintain caution while using these to ensure that only the indicated amount of gel is on the tray.
• Paint on liquids – If you want to do a spot treatment on your teeth due to stains appearing in the form of spots and not evenly distributed, paint on liquids can be used. You will need to apply it evenly and keep it for a longer time. 
• Whitening toothpaste – These act like temporary cleaning agents where they don’t change the color of stains but only make the teeth seem cleaner temporarily.

Are over the counter whitening products safe? 

1. Survey results – After conducting a thorough legal survey, it was found out that several DIY tooth whitening kits which people can avail of over the counter are not safe. These over the counter whitening products have been found to contain an excess and dangerous level of carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide more than 35%. These are highly dangerous levels and can cause severe oral damage like mouth infections, burns in the gums, blisters, damage to nerves and enamel, gum shrinking and the like. 
2. If not done under supervision – Most over the counter whitening products look safe but can have consequences if not done under the supervision or prescription of a dentist. You will need to ensure that you follow all the instructions and exactly use the amount as asked by your doctor. 
3. Long term dependency – As over the counter whitening products are easily available, people can overuse them and do so for a long period. This can compromise oral health to a great extent.
4. Short life span – Usually, over the counter whitening products have a short shelf life and you need to be careful before purchasing any. If the expiry date is crossed, it can be really harmful.

The safest whitening polishes and gels are used by dentists. So if you want to ensure that the procedure is safe and actually efficient, then the best way to go about it is by visiting your doctor. So, schedule your appointment with a dentist and get your teeth whitened today!