Everyone likes a
beautiful smile, but unfortunately, a new disorder, known in the industry as, “Bleachorexia,”
is happening all over the world and could have disastrous results
Over bleaching teeth
with over the counter bleaching products can cause serious problems for your
teeth and gums. Bleaching more than is recommended can make you sensitive to
hot and cold and even make your teeth appear transparent. Your dentist explains that over bleaching can
also ruin the enamel on your teeth.
Tooth whitening is
big business with Americans spending over a billion dollars each year with both
over the counter tooth whitening products such as gels, pastes and whitening
strips, and professional in office tooth whitening and custom made tooth
bleaching trays. In fact, in a recent study conducted by the American Dental Association tooth whitening toothpaste is more popular than fluoride or tartar
control toothpaste.
Although more
research is needed, there is evidence that when tooth-bleaching products are
used as directed no permanent damage will occur.
Studies indicate that
it is quite safe to bleach for two weeks if you are using an over the counter
bleaching product or a custom-made whitening kit from your dentist. It is also safe
to schedule one or two in office chair side bleaching session each year. However,
your dentist will tell you that it is unsafe to include bleaching as part of
your daily routine.
Other side effects,
besides the tooth sensitivity, that could occur from over whitening include
blue colored enamel, gum irritation, and uneven tooth whiteness. If the
chemicals seep into an unfilled cavity or a cracked tooth, the internal damage
will not only be painful, but could also result in a root canal. With the
exception of the internal damage, all of the symptoms will clear up after a
couple of weeks as long as you stop using the tooth bleaching products.
However, some people
will not stop and become, “Bleachorexics.” A decade ago most people were not
even aware of tooth whitening, but these days, most dentists will tell you that
they have had to cut off more than one patient because of, “Bleachorexia.”
One of the main
reasons people can’t stop is because once they do, teeth will return to the
color that they were before bleaching. Very few people are content with their
tooth color after it begins to regress. This starts the cycle all over again,
which eventually leads to over bleaching.
