What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Teeth Whitening?

Published:July 7th, 2014

Fotolia_6959657_Subscription_XLPerhaps you’re toying with the idea of whitening your teeth but are still trying to decide if it’s worthwhile. We’ve put together a few pros and cons of tooth whitening to help you make your decision.

When you smile at others it creates an immediate visual impact, and a beautiful white smile gives an impression of vitality, health and youthfulness. A survey carried out by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry showed the high value we place on a beautiful smile. Even though this is an American study it’s becoming increasingly important in the UK to have nice looking teeth.

This particular study showed an incredible 99.7% of adults believe your smile is an important social asset, while 96% think having a nice smile improves your appeal to the opposite sex. Nearly three quarters of those surveyed felt having an attractive smile could impact a person’s chances of career success. Most people wanted to improve the whiteness of their teeth. So what are the other advantages to using home teeth whitening kits?

Advantages

  • Home teeth whitening kits are an easy way to considerably improve your appearance and this is one reason why they are so popular. Nowadays a beautiful smile is within the reach of just about anybody.
  • Whiter teeth can be a huge boost to self-confidence, and are a great way to feel better about yourself.
  • Teeth whitening at home is very affordable and easy to do, and today’s kits are designed to be super easy to use with the minimum of fuss and mess.
  • Being confident in your smile makes it much easier to interact with others and to enjoy life to the full.
  • A whiter smile can help detract from any facial wrinkles and lines and automatically gives the appearance of youth and energy.

Disadvantages

  • Home teeth whitening kits are very effective but they do need to be followed to the letter to get the very best results without affecting oral health.
  • People with particularly sensitive teeth may have some mild discomfort immediately after using home whitening kits. This should soon disappear once you stop using the kit for a few days.
  • Home whitening kits won’t work on everyone’s teeth, as sometimes tooth stains are intrinsic or internal to the tooth. In this case dental veneers or crowns may be a better option.

As you can see the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. However it does pay to take professional advice from your dentist before using any type of home whitening kit. You should always book a full check-up, and it’s a great idea to have a professional cleaning as this will help to whiten your teeth slightly even before you use your home whitening kit.

The reason it’s so important to have a check-up is to make sure you don’t have any existing dental diseases that could make treatment uncomfortable, and which could worsen if your teeth and gums become irritated through using whitening products. In addition your dentist can give you an honest opinion as to how well whitening will work on your teeth. If they think certain teeth won’t respond to home whitening kits then they will be able to recommend the best choice of professional treatment to lift the colour.


About the author

Alison, is a UK born and educated dental professional with over 25 years experience.

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