As incredible as it may sound, more than a quarter of the UK population has had some kind of cosmetic dental procedure. The most common request is teeth whitening, which can often be completed in only an hour or two. And though dentists are often some of the most feared professionals on the planet, probably because seeing them often involves discomfort or pain, this procedure is entirely pain free.
Still, many patients are apprehensive and they tend to ask a lot of questions. While many of them are based on silly rumours, asking are there any side effects from teeth whitening is certainly a valid question.
So, before we begin we will dispel an old rumour. No, the procedure does not damage the enamel of the teeth if performed correctly. However, that does not mean that it is a pleasurable experience. Probably the most common side effect of teeth whitening is that the teeth can and often will become sensitive. This is due to the fact that the bleach must penetrate the outer layer of the tooth, the enamel, to remove some of the more ingrained stains. But this penetration does not damage the tooth in any way as the bleach loses power soon after it has done its job.
Another common side effect is gum irritation. This should not happen if a trained professional is doing the work, but if it does it is important to rinse immediately. No, the chemicals will not do any permanent damage, but they will irritate your gums and may even burn a bit.
As you might expect, the more discoloured or stained your teeth are, the more sessions you will need. In the end, you may experience extreme sensitivity to cold or warm liquids or even to the air. Nausea and headaches are also common side effects of increased exposure to professional grade teeth whitening gels.