Many adults routinely whiten their teeth, or have them whitened. The process involves using a "bleach" or hydrogen peroxide, and the time required for its application as well as the method of application can vary. The results immediately after tooth whitening can range from quite drastic to more subtle. This whitening of the teeth is only temporary, though, and the teeth will revert to their normal selves after a period of about six to 15 months.
Is the teeth whitening process safe for children?
Tooth whitening — also often called teeth whitening — is not recommended for children or teens under the age of 15. There are a number of reasons for this, but the primary argument, as explained by the American Association of Dentistry, is a lack of scientific evidence about the effects of this procedure in children.
Simply put, we just don’t know if whitening tratments are completely safe, and this is why the procedure is not recommended for children.
Hydrogen peroxide can cause sensitivity in the teeth if it is applied for a longer than normal duration. Since the enamel is thinner in children and their pulp chambers (the center of the tooth with nerve endings) bigger, this sensitivity is likely to be more pronounced in kids.
Hydrogen peroxide also bleaches the gums, the lips, the cheeks, the tongue, and other soft structures inside the mouth. This means that if bleaching strips are not used as instructed, the result could be disastrous.
Swallowing strips is a concern too, as it could result in a medical emergency.
Is teeth whitening the same as scaling?
No, tooth whitening is not the same as the regular scaling that is recommended every six months. For one thing, no chemical bleach is used during scaling, and the shade of the tooth does not change as a result of this treatment.
After scaling, the teethh are free of any external stains, plaque, or calculus that has accumulated around them. This means that while scaling can absolutely cause teeth to appear cleaner, but the actual shade of the teeth remains the same. The dental health benefits of scaling are clear — both for teeth and gums — but teeth whitening has almost no medical advantages.
This is why scaling is recommended as a must for people of all ages to help maintain good dental health, while teeth whitening is a purely cosmetic procedure.
Does tooth whitening have any harmful side effects?
The most immediate and obvious side effect of teeth whitening is sensitivity. For most people, this sensitivity is transient and will resolve by itself over the next few days. For others, this sensitivity can be more severe and require the use of a desensitizing mouthwash, desensitizing toothpaste, or in-office procedures to help take care of it.
People who get teeth whitening done repeatedly are exposed to a higher risk of developing sensitivity — and people who already suffer from sensitivity may have a tough time getting teeth whitening done in the first place.
Hydrogen peroxide is a dangerous chemical that needs to be handled carefully. While the bleaching agent used in the dental clinic has a much higher concentration than you'll find in commercially-availabkle bleaching strips, these products can still cause harmful reactions. A small subset of the people may end up being allergic to the bleaching agent, with potentially serious consequences.
Are there any alternatives to teeth whitening for children?
Certainly. If your child has problems with the color of his or her teeth, head to your dentist and get their opinion from. In most cases, a simple scaling will be sufficient to improve the appearance of the teeth. Children who have one or two severely discolored teeth may benefit from veneers once their teeth have reached their final position.
Composite (tooth-colored) fillings can be offered to children to change the appearance of one or two of their teeth. This is not a permanent solution, but it can indeed serve as a good placeholder until more invasive methods can be performed.
A final word
Tooth whitening is not recommended for children. In fact, even for a lot of adults, tooth whitening may not be the ideal choice — but the age of social media has made pearly white teeth a lot more important than they were.
Teeth that are slightly yellowish in color are not unhealthy. Like we have variations in our skin colors, variations in the color of our teeth are completely normal, too. The use of a bleaching agent in children under 15 years of age has not been studied enough to know the potential side effects — and you shouldn't want your child to be a guinea pig.
Avoiding food and drinks that can cause discoloration, regularly getting a scaling done, and following good oral hygiene are all that is needed in the vast majority of cases.
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