The Hidden Risks of Teeth Whitening with Cavities

When it comes to stained teeth, you may want to get rid of them right away. After all, they may be detracting from your smile and leaving you self-conscious. While a whitening treatment is often your best bet, you will need to make sure you don’t have cavities. This goes for both professional services and over-the-counter products, as this oral health issue can cause problems. Here’s how decay can get in the way of your results.

How Do Cavities Affect Teeth Whitening?

No matter the type of whitening, it works because of the bleaching agents used. They will penetrate your enamel and break down discoloration on and within it. This is typically an easy process, but cavities can make it uncomfortable. That’s because your underlying dentin may be exposed.

The second layer of your teeth has channels that go down to the nerve. They help a tooth feel things like temperature and pressure, but they are fairly sensitive. Anything hot, cold, and sweet can trigger them, but so can whitening gels! When this happens, it’s often a sharp pain that can make things like eating and drinking hurt.

Thankfully, you can easily avoid this complication by going to your dentist first. They will double-check to make sure no dental problems get in the way of your results; that way, you can make sure your oral health stays strong throughout.

What Can I Expect During a Professional Whitening Treatment?

Although professional whitening and store-bought products use bleaching gels, visiting your dentist for a service is often the more reliable and safer choice. After they make sure you have no cavities, you can then get it in-office. Your provider will apply the agent to your smile and routinely check back to ensure your enamel is still good. After about an hour, you can get up to an eight-shade difference.

If a take-home kit is more convenient, then your dentist can set you up with one as well! Using customized trays, you will place that same professional-grade gel and wear it for a specified amount of time. After about two weeks of consistent use, you can get similar results as above!

While a visit to make sure you have no cavities may seem like an “extra” step, it can be an important one to avoid complications. Don’t see it as a hurdle, but as a way to make sure you get a comfortable smile you love.

About the Practice

At On Point Dentistry™, you benefit from the compassionate leadership of Dr. Marco Caballeros and Dr. Carlos Parra. We are happy to help the Frisco community feel the best about their grins with reliable cosmetic dental treatments. By coming to us for a professional whitening service, we can let you preview your results before committing and get you to them with an in-office visit or a take-home kit. If you want to get the aesthetic set of teeth you love, schedule an appointment or call our office at (469) 476-4092.