The Dangers of DIY Teeth Whitening

TEENS are putting their teeth and health at risk by trialling dangerous DIY teeth-whitening techniques found on the internet.

The growing number of young people especially early teens who have just had braces removed seeking the ultimate smile on the cheap is worrying health professionals.

Two 14-year-old north Brisbane schoolgirls admitted to The Sunday Mail that they had tried the online recipes but weren't very happy with the results.

"It tasted disgusting and made me want to gag," one of the girls said. "I prefer to buy the over-the-counter mouthguard whiteners that you get at the shops. They are expensive but everyone uses them, even the boys."

Australian Dental Association Queensland branch president Dr Brad Wright said: "Sodium bicarbonate and hydrogen peroxide are often the ingredients in these mix-it-yourself remedies. Baking powder has been used for years in teeth cleaning because of the lightly abrasive effect and oxygenation but in the hands of children these substances can be dangerous.

"Children who are mixing up quantities of chemicals and applying them for long periods are at risk of eroding tooth enamel, damaging gums and increasing risks of infection.

"Ironically the erosion may expose the yellow-coloured dentin that lies beneath the enamel.

"Sensitive dentine can become exposed and gums can become infected. Bacteria from infected gums can enter the bloodstream. Stomach problems may also occur if any bleaching agent is swallowed."

1300SMILES offers a variety of teeth whitening options. Your dentist will conduct a thorough examination and advise which treatment is best suited to you.  Call 1300 764 537 or click here for an appointment.

Source The Courier Mail

The Dangers of Beauty Salon Teeth Whitening

A routine teeth-whitening procedure at a local beauty salon left an Adelaide woman bruised, blistered and unable to brush her teeth for a month. Felecia Williams is one of many victims of untrained retailers who offer cheap whitening procedures to lure customers, dentists say.

"It was instant pain," Ms Williams said of the procedure, which she had performed in December after being given a gift voucher at work and which resulted in badly cut gums.

"(The beautician) actually said it was normal ... I put it (bleach) back in and sat through 30 minutes of absolute pain," Ms Williams told journalists in Adelaide today.
"The pain was immense ... it was a month before I could brush my teeth properly."

SA Dental Association president Angela Pierce warned consumers they were putting themselves at risk by having their teeth whitened by non-dentists. "If you're getting a bargain basement prices, you're probably getting a bargain basement service as well," she said. Ms Pierce said the use of peroxide at unsafe levels could result in laceration and blistering of gums, damaged enamel and discolouration.

"We're seeing more and more people come in with more problems with industrial use of teeth bleachers," she said. Ms Williams said pain, lack of gum protectors and an oral examination should ring alarm bells for consumers at beauty shops.

"If you feel any pain at all it is not normal - definitely go to a dentist."

1300SMILES offers a variety of teeth whitening options. Your dentist will conduct a thorough examination and advise which treatment is best suited to you.  Call 1300 764 537 or click here for an appointment.

Source: The Advertiser

The dangers of DIY teeth whitening

Many websites and retail outlets and beauty salons offer the promise of sparkling white teeth at without the time or expense of a dental visit. Statements such as ”It's affordable, simple and convenient and there's no need to take time off to visit the dentist’, are often used to sell these products.  However these products still contain bleach.

When used incorrectly without advice from your dentist,  they can do untold damage, eroding tooth enamel which is there to protect teeth from acid and decay. Ironically, using these treatments could eventually cause teeth to become darker as the layer of enamel becomes thinner and the yellow-coloured dentin, which lies beneath the enamel, becomes more exposed.

As tooth enamel is eroded, nerves are exposed, causing pain when you eat hot, cold or sweet food, plus the tooth may be more at risk of infection and decay. And, worse still, if the substances get on the gums it could leave them vulnerable to disease.

 Gum disease can increase risk of serious illnesses including heart disease. Bacteria can find their way via inflamed gums from your mouth into the bloodstream where they produce a protein that encourages clots to form, increasing risk of heart disease and stroke.

After you teeth whitening treatment at your local 1300SMILES dentist,  will recommend a  follow up treatment to help you maintain your new smile.  This support is not supplied with the at home treatments, leaving you at risk of problems such as tooth decay in the future.  

 1300SMILES offers a take home whitening treatment using custom fitted mouth trays, giving you professional results. For a limited time only, this treatment is available for the only $199.

Click here to make an appointment or call 1300 764 537 today.

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Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry is the broad term for a range of dental procedures that can restore or replace discoloured, chipped, gapped, crooked or missing teeth. Severe tooth problems may need orthodontic treatment. This is a specialised branch of dentistry that corrects jaw and teeth misalignments with devices such as braces. See your dentist or other oral health professional for further information and advice.

Tooth-coloured fillings
Obvious silver fillings can be replaced with tooth-coloured ones. This is particularly effective if the fillings are visible when you smile. However, the decision to have fillings replaced for appearance should be balanced against potential structural and nerve damage to teeth that can occur with placement of fillings.

Bleaching
Dark teeth can be lightened with specially formulated bleach. The dentist makes plastic trays that mould to the shape of your teeth. Every night at home, you pour the bleaching solution into the trays and ‘bite’ on them to bathe the teeth. Usually, the teeth lighten significantly in around two weeks. However, this treatment won’t work on fillings.

Bleaching should only be tried under the guidance of a dental professional who will be able to discuss factors such as the possibility of post-bleaching sensitivity with you. Teeth that are discoloured following root canal treatment can sometimes have their original colour returned by bleaching treatment inside the tooth. This can only be carried out by a dentist.

Micro-abrasion
Discoloured enamel can be gently ground away using an abrasive, acid-based paste. In severe cases, the enamel may be removed entirely and the tooth sealed with appropriately coloured filling. Such treatment can impact on the strength of the teeth, so it should only be conducted by a qualified dental professional.

Bonding
Chipped, gapped, discoloured or oddly shaped teeth can be treated with bonding. The dentist applies resin (plastic) fillings that match the colour of the teeth. However, the resin may need to be replaced occasionally.

Veneers
Instead of resin fillings, affected teeth can be fitted with porcelain veneers. A veneer is only around half a millimetre thick and is glued to the front of the tooth. To make sure the thickness of the tooth remains the same, the equivalent depth of enamel will need to be removed first. Porcelain veneers last longer than resin fillings, but can be damaged or chipped by habits such as fingernail chewing.

Crowns
Crowns are caps that are permanently bonded to a damaged tooth. They can be covered in a thin layer of tooth-coloured porcelain to mask the repair and match the look of existing teeth.

Dental implants
A missing tooth can be replaced with a dental implant rather than a partial denture. A small titanium screw is fixed into the jaw and the crown or tooth is fitted. In time, the screw becomes fused with the bone of the jaw. Implants are successful in around 90 to 95 per cent of cases. Those that replace the front teeth in the lower jaw have a near perfect success rate.

Orthodontic treatment
Teeth that are overcrowded, overlapping, crooked or severely gapped may need more than cosmetic treatment. Orthodontics is a specialised branch of dentistry that treats teeth and jaw problems. This can include teeth that are overcrowded, overlapping, crooked or severely gapped. Techniques include corrective devices, such as braces and plates, to help the teeth to properly align.

Where to get help

• Your local 1300SMILES dentist, call 1300 764 537 or click here to make an appointment.

Things to remember

• Discoloured, chipped or missing teeth can affect self-confidence and may affect your oral health.
• Cosmetic dentistry can make substantial improvements to every kind of smile.
• There are techniques to deal with discoloured, chipped, gapped, crooked or missing teeth.
• In some cases, you may need to be referred to a specialist in orthodontics.

How Are Teeth Whitened?

Enamel, the first layer of tooth surface, is actually semi-translucent, or clear. The layer underneath the enamel, known as dentin, is typically yellow, but may be gray, brown or black. This hue is what is seen penetrating through the enamel. In order to whiten the dentin, a peroxide solution is placed on the enamel. This process opens the pores of the enamel, allowing the solution to reach the layer of dentin. The solution will then begin to lighten the dentin, resulting in the appearance of whiter teeth.

Several brands of tooth-whitening products are on the market that all promise one thing -- noticeable results. Professional in-office whitening, professional take-home whitening and over-the-counter whitening products remain the most common ways to whiten your teeth.

It is important to have realistic expectations when evaluating your final results; it may take several treatments to achieve a whiter smile. Whitening results may not be permanent, as your teeth will naturally pick up stain from foods or beverages or from tobacco use. Remember to brush and floss daily, and visit your dentist for regular cleanings and examinations.

Numerous advertisements by beauty salons have claimed that the procedure they offer is more effective than taking a trip to the dentist and is also less expensive. However these treatments often contain increased level of bleach can de be highly dangerous Excessive chemicals that bleach can be harmful not only to your teeth, mouth and gums, but also to your esophagus and even your stomach. In   You might also have even greater problem if you by accident ingest the chemicals used. The staff of beauty salons typically are not trained as dentists and even though they might have has some basic knowledge they mostly will not have the experience and extensive training of a dentist.

For a limited time only, 1300SMILES are offering our take home teeth whitening treatment for only $199, available at selected practices only, conditions apply.  Call 1300SMILES on 1300 764 537 or click here to make an appointment today.