Can anyone please tell me if tooth whitening is harmful to enamel?
540520
bleaching/whitening does no damage/corrosion to enamel...  that is a common misconception.  the only downside of bleaching for some people is sensitivity in the teeth and gums.  this sensitivity is only temporary and if you want whiter teeth, you'll have to deal with a little discomfort along the way.  \n\nwhitening toothpastes are a gimmick!!  if you read the small print on some of the commercials, you'll see that their claims are made after using the paste for 6 months or longer.  whitening pastes and tartar control pastes have a higher particle size.  these pastes are abrasive and while they remove stains very well, they also remove your enamel (in microscopic amounts along the way).  if your technique is poor when using such pastes, you can do more harm than good.  you may create v-shaped notches in your teeth near the gums and also cause gingival recession.  remember to use a soft brush and gentle, circular motions.\n\nso, bleach until your desired shade is reached--there's no harm as long as you follow all of your dentist's/manufacturer's instructions.
1157300
i am an dentist.i read what u wrote. do not try to use any bleach because even that the tooth is white the chemical compound will ruin your soft tisue. use only profesional whitening materials.
775630
Hi, \n\nThe only way you will be able to whiten your teeth properly is to have them bleached professionally at a dentist. The stuff sold in the shops does not contain enough peroxide (the active ingredient) to remove anything but a little suface staining.You need to have at least 10% peroxide and this strength is only legally available to dentists in the UK . \n\n Bleaching, when done properly does NOT damage the enamel of the teeth, any sensitivity is usually only temporary and can usually be overcome by using a Sensitive toothpaste and fluoride mouthwash.\n\nI have had quite a few patients have it done, men and women of all ages (mostly over 40 surprisingly) and we have had some really good results.\n\nTo do home bleaching supervised by a dentist costs around £350 but gets fantastic results. You wear two bleaching trays for a couple of hours a night for approx 2 wks depending on lightening needed.\n\nYou can also have speed whitening done at the dentist in 1 hour and at around £650, but beware, if your teeth are not isolated properly this can make your teeth and gums very sensitive! better to do it gradually over a couple of weeks when you get the same results anyway. The laser light does not really do anything anyway, it just makes you think you are getting value for money !\n\nIf it is just surface staining I advise my patients to use a toothpaste containing Bicarbonate of soda and and electric toothbrush (you can get them as cheap as £12 now) this can work wonders too. Also a visit to a Dental Hygienist for a professional scale and polish can make a big difference .\n\nHope this helps
553075
Use Crest Whitestrips!!! I have been using them yearly since they came out a few years ago... They have turned my teeth from almost the worst color yellow they can get (due to very bad dental hygene when I was younger) to the bright white like most models on the commercials...and they are only $20...that is sooo cheap for waht they can do for someones confidence!!! I have been getting compliments ever since I had gone through just half of a box!!!.......oh and if u do buy them make sure you buy the original ones in the cheap box...all of the other kinds Crest has out do the exact same thing (not one is better than the other!) the reason I say to buy the original ones is because they are the cheapest!!!
102982
I think so---I use Crest White Strips.  In fact whenever I use them, my dentist alwasy comments on how white my teeth are.
175117
in addition to the above answers, mouthrinses cause dental discoloration as well
1047324
The problem with Enamelon was totally financial.  They spent too much money trying to complete the research needed to obtain approval, could not recoup their expenses, and went belly up.  \n\nThe good news is you can find a toothpaste with the same ingredients (calcium phosphate) and principal of not mixing them too early so they don't precipitate.  It's called Mentadent Replenishing White.  I'm not talking about the orginal Mentadent with peroxide, but the one that says "Liquid Calcium"  I got mine at CVS.\n\nArm & Hammer also has a toothpaste called EnamelCare with calcium phosphate, but it is already mixed (not in a pump) therefore I believe less effective.\n\nNeither of these toothpastes have done the clinical studies to prove their efficacy, probably because of expense.
545677
Hi, Crest white Strips will take the enamel(sp?) of of your teeth. The enamal protects your teeth. I recommend not to use them. It works beutifully, but here are some homemade methods that are great!\n\n1)It's not a myth...baking powder works like magic, I personally have used it. Baking soda is a natural bleach, so it actually can not do any harm for you!\n\n2)Have you tried hydrogen peroxide (Sp?). It too works great. If you mix them together on your toothbrush you will have a white smile. (It is recommend not to use the hydrogen poroxide more than 3 times a week)\n\nAnyways, give it a try...and I hope it helps! \n\nP.S. By the way many people use lemon juice. DO NOT use this. It is too citrusy for your teeth and can eat away at them. Good luck! :)
227534
Crest Whitestrips can make your teeth very sensitive and also they are not approved by the ADA (American Dental Association).  There are no products you can purchase over-the-counter that is approved by the ADA.  The best way to whiten your teeth is to see your dentist as they have the only whitening products that are approved by the ADA and also so they can monitor you through your treatment in the event any problems arise.  Also, whitening toothpastes do not change the shade of your teeth and are very abrasive and can cause potential damage to the enamel of the teeth.
297388
It's not going to happen.  Whitening toothpastes will not change the shade of your teeth.... at best, they may do a little better at removing some of the everyday stains caused by such things as smoking and drinking dark beverages.  I do not recommend them because they are very abrasive and could potentially harm the enamel of the teeth.  As for the over-the-counter bleaching materials such as crest white strips, NONE of them are approved by the ADA (American Dental Association).  For products that are approved by the ADA you will need to see your dentist.  Also, it's best to be under the care of a dentist while you are whitening due to high reports of sensitivity and in case of any allergic reactions.
484055
Non-fluoride toothpaste is definitely better for your teeth.  In fact, over-exposure to fluoride may cause flurosis, which causes the crumbling of the enamel, discolors and damages your teeth.\n\nTony Lees, from Herefordshire, a dentist for 40 years, believes that fluoride should be banned from toothpastes and water. The marginal benefit it displays for teeth does not outweigh its general dangers, he says.  “In the scale of toxicity, fluorides fall between arsenic and lead."
849122
Hi,\n\nIt's difficult to tell exactly without seeing your mouth but 'Blackening' could be caused for a number of reasons.....\n\nFirst thing please try and stop smoking, most of the patients I see with severe gum problems that lead to losing their teeth are smokers, It really badly affects the gums.\n\n The blackening is very likely due to nicotine staining, but can also be a sign that your gums are receeding, as the root surface of teeth when exposed stains a lot more as the root is more porous. Exposed roots are also more prone to decay, although your Dentist should have spotted if this is the case, and are also a sign of gum disease (very common in smokers)\n\n Ideally you should be seeing a Dental Hygienist every 3 months if you smoke, if there is not one at your practice you can ask your dentist to refer you to one at another practice if need be as long as you have a referral letter.\n\nAbrasive pastes like Eucryl and Pearl Drops should not be used regularly as they will roughen and abrade away the enamel and ultimately make the staining worse and your teeth sensitive , same goes for lemon juice, way too acidic, leave a tooth in lemon juice and it dissolves completely eventually!\n\nIf it is just surface staining I advise my patients to use a toothpaste containing Bicarbonate of soda and and electric toothbrush (you can get them as cheap as £12 now) this can work wonders too. \n\nThe only way to  whiten  teeth properly is to have them professionally cleaned by a Dentist or Hygienist and then bleached  by a dentist. \n\nThe stuff sold in the shops does not contain enough peroxide (the active ingredient) to remove anything but a little suface staining.You need to have at least 10% peroxide and this strength is only legally available to dentists in the UK . To do home bleaching supervised by a dentist costs around £350 but gets fantastic results. You wear two bleaching trays for a couple of hours a night for approx 2 wks depending on lightening needed.\n\nYou can also have speed whitening done at the dentist in 1 hour and at around £650, but beware this can make your teeth and gums very sensitive! better to do it gradually over a couple of weeks when you get the same results anyway.\n\nIf the teeth are really badly stained they may need to be crowned or veneered to make a big difference. \n\nMention your concerns about your appearance to the Dentist at your next appointment, that's what they are there for! they may not even be aware of your concern, but should be able to discuss options with you. Good Luck!\n\nHope this helps!
94892
actually yes..\nperoxide is an ingredient of whitening kits\nand is commercially used\nbut dnt use high concentrations, it can be damaging otherwise..
691769
Yes, it erodes tooth enamel. (usually citrus fruit)\nSaliva usually neutralizes the acid. So just don't over do the fruit juices.  Also don't brush your teeth right after you have orange juice or any acidic fruit!\nThe enamel is softened by the acid and you can cause more damage with a tooth brush. Just rinse your mouth with water if your worried about it. Wait about 1/2 an hour or longer before you brush.
745950
I personally did not use it but I did see a report on the Channel Six News (Problem Solvers is the segment where they test out products and tell consumers if it is worth buying the product or not).  They tried the White Light Teeth Whitening System for a few days and then went to a dentist.  The dentist had taken a picture before trying the product and after he used it for a week and there was a very small change.  The dentist said that it would have just been easier and cheaper to have it done in his office then wasting the time and money on that product.
270245
Bleaching ...I hade my teeth bleached  and they look ok,,,and then take great care to keep them that way..\n\nTooth bleaching, also known as tooth whitening, is a common procedure in general dentistry but most especially in the field of cosmetic dentistry. Many people consider white teeth to be an attractive feature of a smile. A child's deciduous teeth (milk teeth) are generally whiter than the adult teeth that follow. As a person ages the adult teeth often increase in value, that is to say they become darker. This darkening is due to changes in the mineral structure of the tooth, as the enamel becomes less porous. Teeth can also become stained by bacterial pigments, foodstuffs and tobacco.\n\nAs white teeth are subconsciously associated with youth, they have become desirable. This has been made more apparent with the spread of American culture worldwide, where an especially white smile is coined, a "Hollywood smile". The procedure to bleach teeth uses oxidising agents such as hydrogen peroxide to lighten the shade of the tooth. The oxidising agent penetrates the porosities in the rod-like crystal structure of enamel and oxidises interprismatic stain deposits, over a period of time, the dentine layer, lying underneath the enamel, is also bleached.\n\nThere are two main methods of bleaching. The first involves applying a high concentration of oxidising agent for a short period of time (the so called office bleach). This produces quick results but risks chemical burns to the soft tissues. Therefore most in-office bleaching procedures utilize a light-cured protective layer that is carefully painted on the gums and papilla (the tips of the gums between the teeth). The bleaching agent used here is either carbamide peroxide, which breaks down in the mouth to form hydrogen peroxide, or hydrogen peroxide itself. The bleaching gel typically contains up to 35% hydrogen peroxide equivalent.\n\nThe alternative method involves using a thin mouthguard or strip to hold a low concentration of oxidising agent next to the teeth for as long as several hours a day for a period of 5 to 14 days. This is known as take-home or OTC (over-the-counter) bleaching. This is a slower process but has lower risks to the soft tissues. The bleaching agent is typically less than 10% hydrogen peroxide equivalent
71164
You really can't whiten teeth with any type bleach that has been stained by tetracyclene, But... You can get porcelin veneers bonded to the teeth themselves that are of a white shade, and there is a cheaper way if you can get your dentist to do it, and that is getting Veneers done with a composite material,(instead of porcelin) which is the stuff they use to fill cavities with, a nice white shade, they may not last but  a few years, but the cost is like somewhere between $70-$100 per tooth could be less or more, but that is what i got 2 of my teeth done for,(it was free actually because i worked for the dentist,)but that is the fee he charged for his patients, alot of doctors don't want to do them, because... it is cheaper, and they don't last as long as veneers, But if you call around to different dentists, there should be one out there willing to do it,you need to be a little persistant with them and tell them this is what you want,and let them know you will take your chances on them not lasting as long as porcelin veneers, (I'VE HAD MINE FOR 10 YEARS NOW.)