Discoloured teeth can wipe the smile off your face – that’s why many are turning to teeth whitening for a cleaner and brighter smile.
Is teeth whitening safe? Does it cause gum recession? This article explores the link between whitening and gum recession.
What is teeth whitening?
Teeth whiteningis a procedure in which your dentist removes stains and discolouration fromteeth to make them milky white.
Your dentist will apply a whitening gel, which has up to40% of hydrogen peroxide and use a special lamp or laser to clean the teeth.Your lips, gums, and tongue will be covered to prevent the gel from acting onanything other than your teeth.
You can also whiten your teeth at home with a whitening kitwhich usually comes in gel form. The kits also have a smaller version of thelight and will provide instructions on how to do it.
Yes, it’s possible for teeth whitening tocause gum recession due to the whitening agents in the gel (the peroxide) canirritate your gums. The peroxide acts in a similar way to bleach, and if itgets onto your gums, you’ll feel a burning sensation.
You may develop white spots on your gums. In addition, the chemical may cause the gums to become inflamed, which can lead to infections. Weak gums and infections are usually one of the leading causes of gum recession.
Home teeth whitening is more likely to causethese dental issues. There is a significantly lower risk of gum recession ifyou have your whitening treatment performed by a dentist. As mentioned earlier,the dentist takes extra precautions to cover your gums, so the chemicals don’tend up in the wrong places. In addition, they monitor any irritation and canquickly act before it gets out of hand.
Can you whiten teeth with receding gums?
What if you already have gum recession? Can you whiten yourteeth?
No, it’s not advisable to use any teeth whiteningsubstances if you have receding gums. Your gums should be thick and in goodhealth; otherwise, you risk further complications.
Also, gum recession leaves your roots exposed. The rootslack the enamel layer which covers the teeth, meaning they will be moreseverely affected by whitening chemicals. The peroxides can cause the roots tobecome thinner and more sensitive to irritations and cold, plus the risk oftooth decay becomes much higher.
If you are experiencing gum recession its best to seek out treatment options like:
Scaling and root planing
Gum graft surgery
Pinhole surgical technique
You can proceed with the whitening procedure once the gumproblem has been resolved.
In summary
Teeth whitening is a great way to restore your dazzling smile and confidence. You can choose to DIY or get it done by a professional dentist in Maroubra. In saying that, it’s highly advisable to choose the professional route to reduce the risk of inducing irritation and inflammation on your gums which can cause gum recession. If you already have receding gums, it’s best to seek treatment before whitening your teeth.
Weak gums and infections are usually one of the leading causes of gum recession
gum recession
Gingival recession, also known as gum recession and receding gums, is the exposure in the roots of the teeth caused by a loss of gum tissue and/or retraction of the gingival margin from the crown of the teeth.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Gingival_recession
. Home teeth whitening is more likely to cause these dental issues. There is a significantly lower risk of gum recession if you have your whitening treatment performed by a dentist.
#2 Another cause of gum recession is the excessive use of teeth whitening strips. Purchasing over-the-counter whitening strips can damage the gums because the whitening solution is very powerful. Should this solution touch the gums, they shrivel away, causing gum recession.
People who have gum disease typically already deal with gum irritation and pain. Whitening treatments would only lead to more pain and irritation for such people, and it can even end up damaging their teeth. Dentists typically recommend getting gum disease under control before considering whitening treatments.
Using whitening or higher abrasive tooth paste. Whitening toothpastes do not make the teeth whiter. They contain more abrasive particles and are simply more efficient at removing stain. But this abrasiveness can lead to recession.
Gum recession is when your gum tissue pulls away from your teeth, exposing the roots underneath. It's caused by a number of factors, including aggressive brushing, smoking and even genetics. Treatments include antibiotics, antimicrobial mouth rinses and surgery.
As long as you stop the bleaching treatment quickly, the good news is that gum irritation usually resolves on its own after a few days. Saltwater rinses will help relieve discomfort during recovery. If needed, over-the-counter pain relievers can dull the irritation or burning feeling.
Hot foods and drinks aren't the only things that can burn or irritate your soft tissue, including your gingival (gum) tissue. If you're not careful, you can damage your gum tissue while whitening your teeth.
Corsodyl toothpaste has been shown to have many uses including fighting oral thrush, relieving mouth ulcers, cleaning wisdom teeth and improving gum disease, which is a cause of gum recession.
Sadly gums can't grow back once they have been lost, but it may be possible to prevent further gum recession and get relief from sensitivity by using specialized mouthwashes regularly in combination with excellent oral hygiene that disrupts plaque effectively without damaging the gums in certain situations.
Your dentist will clean above and below the gum to remove bacteria and plaque. Then a regenerative material – a membrane, tissue-stimulating protein or graft tissue, will be applied to encourage your body to naturally restore the damaged bone and tissue. The gum is then securely reattached over the root of the tooth.
The leading causes of receding gums are an inconsistent oral care routine, high consumption of sugar, tobacco use, and irregular dental cleanings. Brushing too vigorously may lead to or contribute to the recession of the gum line, as well.
Deep cleaning, or dental scaling and root planning, is one of the most effective ways to heal mild to average gum recession. The dentist or periodontist uses special tools to remove plaque and bacteria deep from the gum pockets during the treatment.
Electric toothbrushes are generally considered safer for gums. In addition, soft bristles are recommended over hard bristles, regardless of toothbrush type. As aggressive brushing can lead to gum recession, an electric toothbrush with better, soft bristles can be superior for gum health.
The simple answer is, no. If your gums are damaged by, for example periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease, it's not possible for receding gums to grow back. However, even though receding gums can't be reversed there are treatments that can help to stop the problem from getting worse.
“Generally speaking, whitening kits are not harmful to your teeth,” explains Dr. Greg Scheier, DDS of Scheier Dental Group. “There are, however, potential temporary sensitivities, both in the teeth and gums, that may result from the use of both over-the-counter and dentist-administered whitening kits.”
The risk of infections after a deep cleaning also exists and can result in gum recession. Occasionally there is a risk of nerve damage in rare circ*mstances.
To fix receding gums, we can use a procedure called a gum graft. This is a minor surgical procedure that involves taking healthy gum tissue from another part of the mouth and attaching it to where the gums have receded, providing extra tissue to build the gums back up.
Introduction: My name is Lidia Grady, I am a thankful, fine, glamorous, lucky, lively, pleasant, shiny person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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