Advice on Teeth Whitening Discussion Thread

George_Bray

brook2jack wrote: »

I had patients who tried this. I've also had someone who attempted cosmetic dentistry with domestos and a metal rasp.

Both were equally misguided and had similar disasterous results. Very bad chemical burns.

Well, as I said, I didn't suffer any bad effects. I tried to keep the peroxide off my gums and certainly avoided swallowing any. You make it sound as though the similar chemicals used by professionals are entirely safe and inert.

coldstreamalways

George_Bray wrote: »

Well, as I said, I didn't suffer any bad effects. I tried to keep the peroxide off my gums and certainly avoided swallowing any. You make it sound as though the similar chemicals used by professionals are entirely safe and inert.

Certainly safer than hair bleach. We are also heavily insured to use these chemicals, something you wouldn't be if you tried to make a bleaching cocktail by raiding a chemist and a cookery shop.

roddydogs

Hydrogen Peroxide 3% is totally safe-its used as a mouthwash anyway, the trouble is trying to keep the mix (mixed with Bicarb) on you teeth is virtually impossible, as you immeadiatly start dribbling. i add a small amount of salt as well and just use as a Toothpaste, But dont claim brilliant results. No matter what you use Tea or coffee/red wine should be rinsed off immediately which is impractical for most people

silvercar

roddydogs wrote: »

Hydrogen Peroxide 3% is totally safe-its used as a mouthwash anyway, the trouble is trying to keep the mix (mixed with Bicarb) on you teeth is virtually impossible, as you immeadiatly start dribbling. i add a small amount of salt as well and just use as a Toothpaste, But dont claim brilliant results. No matter what you use Tea or coffee/red wine should be rinsed off immediately which is impractical for most people

..and you know the byproducts of mixing hydrogen peroxide and salt??

..and the risks of hydrogen peroxide??

(from wiki: Internal ailments. Large oral doses of hydrogen peroxide at a 3% concentration may cause "irritation and blistering to the mouth, (which is known as Black hairy tongue) throat, and abdomen", as well as "abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea".)

Toothsmith

silvercar wrote: »

..and you know the byproducts of mixing hydrogen peroxide and salt??

..and the risks of hydrogen peroxide??

(from wiki: Internal ailments. Large oral doses of hydrogen peroxide at a 3% concentration may cause "irritation and blistering to the mouth, (which is known as Black hairy tongue) throat, and abdomen", as well as "abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea".)

And if you stuff enough of it into your underpants, you can bring down a plane!

George_Bray

coldstreamalways wrote: »

Certainly safer than hair bleach. We are also heavily insured to use these chemicals, something you wouldn't be if you tried to make a bleaching cocktail by raiding a chemist and a cookery shop.

I generally figure I'm on to a money saving winner when the main arguments against are like the above and/or from traders trying to protect their income stream. You can buy a litre (1000ml) of hydrogen peroxide from the Sally stores for well under £10 if I remember correctly. Compare that to a syringe or small vessel containing 10 or 20ml of a peroxide variant from the teeth whitening direct sales sites for perhaps £10-£20 per 10ml-20ml, let alone nearer £300++ charged by dentists for much the same thing.

The generic product is hydrogen peroxide, and that happens to be used in hair colour products (most conveniently as a cream which doesn't drip) but it sounds more dramatic to suggest you're putting "hair bleach" on your teeth. And who said anyone is going to swallow enough of the peroxide to cause significant internal problems? I'm sure it would be exactly the same if you swallowed the chemicals which the dentist allows you to use at home, or if you swallow too often whilst under the dentist's direct care.

brook2jack

George_Bray wrote: »

I generally figure I'm on to a money saving winner when the main arguments against are like the above and/or from traders trying to protect their income stream. "


Some of the dentists commenting here do not offer tooth whitening for various reasons.

Some of us do but personally speaking I refuse to do it on a far greater proportion of people than I agree to do it for. Why? Because many people who do not maintain excellent oral health see it as an easy way to improve their teeth cosmetically without realising that
a it will cause untold damage to gums that are not in good condition

B it will not change the colour of fillings and crowns

c it can cause sensitivity or make it worse

d without a good scale and polish and flossing etc you will get a patchy appearance

e different peoples teeth will reach different colours and you cannot predict the end result.

I see patients at least 4 times during the process and the hygienist sees them at least once.

I am aware I am using potentially dangerous chemicals in a delicate area and by paying top whack for a good lab to make excellent trays which use miniscule amounts of solution I am minimising the risk.

As said before I have seen horrific results from diy "bleaching" and anyone advising people to make up their own will inevitable result in someone suffering needlessly. Tooth whitening is not an essential if you can't afford it don't do it your health is more important than ill advised moneysaving.

Toothsmith

You may well know what you're doing George (Although you are laying yourself open to some serious gum damage).

The problem will be that there are others reading this who will not.

The person who invented the stuff used in dental practices will have started out with an idea and basic chemicals, but then it would have to be put into a form that could basically be released into the realm of that rather stupid beast 'the general public'.

Never overestimate the 'general public'. There are some very very silly ones out there.

Even if you are very very very careful, you can do some serious damage to your oral mucosa with agents as powerful as peroxide (even dilute). Plus - it's unlikely to give you a whiter smile.

By urging others to 'give it a go' when you don't know their mental capacity is just plain stupid.

You would behave differently if anyone who acted on your post could sue you, I bet.

George_Bray

Toothsmith wrote: »

You may well know what you're doing George (Although you are laying yourself open to some serious gum damage).

The problem will be that there are others reading this who will not.

The person who invented the stuff used in dental practices will have started out with an idea and basic chemicals, but then it would have to be put into a form that could basically be released into the realm of that rather stupid beast 'the general public'.

Never overestimate the 'general public'. There are some very very silly ones out there.

Even if you are very very very careful, you can do some serious damage to your oral mucosa with agents as powerful as peroxide (even dilute). Plus - it's unlikely to give you a whiter smile.

By urging others to 'give it a go' when you don't know their mental capacity is just plain stupid.

You would behave differently if anyone who acted on your post could sue you, I bet.

Good post. I respect your input.

It's true that I try to be as cautious as I can be, during what I admit is a somewhat risky procedure of DIY whitening. Anyone doing this needs to be VERY careful.

I say 'risky' because I admit I don't know what I don't know about teeth whitening. For example, I have no idea how much hydrogen peroxide (6%) you'd need to swallow to cause serious internal problems.

So I should have said that, whilst I haven't yet experienced gum, let alone, internal problems, I'm not suggesting anyone else should follow my procedure.

joewa

hi,my dentist is happy for me to use 9 %