If you've been thinking about using a DIY teeth-whitening product, you should consider consulting a dentist about whitening your smile first. Here are some reasons why.
They could help you to whiten your teeth without using bleach
One reason to have this consultation is that it could result in the dentist offering you some treatment or advice that might allow you to whiten your smile without using bleach. This is important, as the bleach that is used for teeth-whitening purposes has the potential to inflict damage (especially when people use it on their own, at home and end up opting for an excessively strong bleach solution or leaving the solution on their teeth for too long).
For example, after they've examined your teeth, the dentist might find that the discolouration that is affecting the overall whiteness of your smile is caused by superficial stains, that could be removed with a simple scale-and-polish session. In this situation, opting for this treatment, instead of using a tooth-bleaching solution, could allow you to brighten your teeth in a way that would not only be less damaging but that would actually make your teeth and gums healthier, due to it removing tartar, as well as the superficial stains.
They could offer insight into why whitening your teeth might not be the right dental treatment for you
Another reason to consult a dentist about this matter is that they might be able to offer insight into why using any type of whitening treatment might not be the best choice for you, based on their evaluation of your dental health. For example, if they can see that the enamel on some of your teeth has eroded, they might advise you to skip bleaching your teeth entirely, as a whitening treatment might accelerate this erosion and lead to you experiencing more of the symptoms that come with it (such as a higher risk of cavities, greater tooth sensitivity, etc.). As such, by having this consultation, you could avoid doing something to your teeth that might lead to serious dental problems in the future.
If the dentist only finds that some of your back teeth have signs of enamel erosion, they might recommend that you only have your healthy front teeth whitened instead. In this situation, they might suggest that you have the treatment done in a dental clinic, as trying to apply a whitening solution to just a few of your teeth, by yourself, could be very difficult and you might end up accidentally exposing your eroded teeth to this substance.
Find a dentist near you and learn more about teeth whitening.
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