Heel Spur Treatment Tips

Receding Gums and Whitening: How Home Bleaching Kits Can Cause Receding Gums

Home bleaching kits, when used responsibly, can be almost as effective as more expensive treatments such as Zoom in-office laser whitening. Bleaching kits are also a good short-term solution if you currently don't have the financial means to opt for a professionally administered teeth whitening treatment.

However, like any over-the-counter treatment of this type, you should exercise caution as well as patience when using it to whiten your teeth. Your gums are fragile and will recede if damaged or irritated.

Rushing Your Treatment Can Harm Your Gums and Teeth

If you are worried that your teeth might not be white enough for an upcoming event, or social gathering; whatever you do, do not rush your treatment. If you have heard that in-office treatments like laser whitening can achieve pleasing results in 1-2 hours and think you can achieve similar results by rushing things—you are mistaken.

According to Webmd.com, at-home bleaching trays contain much less hydrogen peroxide (3-20%) than whitening systems provided by a dentist (15-43%) in a dental clinic. However, you should keep in mind four things when considering this:

1. Bleaching Agent Strength: The more hydrogen peroxide a gel contains, the less time it requires to whiten teeth and the more dangerous it is to teeth and gums.
2. Laser Whitening Process: Laser whitening techniques often combine light or laser technology to accelerate the process safely, often making teeth up to 7 shades whiter in 1-2 hours; this means that although the bleaching agent is much stronger, it is applied to your teeth for a much shorter duration and is therefore safer.
3. Gum Protection: Dentists protect your gums during the process by applying a protective gel to them beforehand.
4. Bleaching Tray Design: Over-the-counter bleaching trays are designed to whiten teeth over a period of 2-4 weeks.

While instructions may vary, most over-the-counter bleaching tray providers will recommend that you use trays for up to 1-2 hours per night for up to 4 weeks, and this duration is supported by research.

Attempting to rush results may irritate your gums, causing gum recession, which can lead to tooth decay and costly dental treatments in the future.

Ill-Fitting Trays May Cover Gums in Whitening Gel

While custom made whitening trays, designed by a dentist specifically for your teeth, are generally well-fitting, over-the-counter trays are not. This can expose your soft gum tissue to hydrogen peroxide. Your gums may turn white due to the irritation caused by the gel and later may also recede.

You can avoid this, if you examine your tray first before application. First, before adding any gel, place the tray over your teeth. If the tray edge goes over your gums, you should both trim it until it is just below the gumline and add slightly less gel than is recommended to start with.

This is the downside of over-the-counter bleaching kits; they are not one size fits all.

Consult Your Dentist First

Before you begin treatment, book an oral examination with your dentist. This form of whitening is not suitable for everyone; for example, if you have had extensive work done to your teeth, such as fillings and dental bonding, bleaching trays might not be a safe or effective solution.

With patience and diligence, your teeth can be gleaming white in 2-4 weeks. However, if time is of the essence, don't jeopardize the health of your gums and teeth; see a dentist and discuss the options available to you.