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Is teeth whitening safe for you?

Dr Muhammad Rafay Imran 01:33 PM, 3 Jan, 2022
Is teeth whitening safe for you?

Tooth whitening, often known as tooth bleaching, is a cosmetic surgery that lightens a patient's teeth. Teeth can become discoloured over time for many purposes, and whitening can be accomplished by altering the tooth enamel's intrinsic or extrinsic colour of the tooth enamel. More consumers are willing to pay for teeth that are whiter and brighter. But is tooth whitening safe for you?


Teeth Whitening/Teeth Bleaching 

Teeth whitening kinds of toothpaste, over-the-counter gels, rinses, strips, trays, and whitening products acquired from a dentist are just a few of the options. Patients with healthy, unrestored teeth and gums are ideal patients for teeth whitening. Individuals with yellow teeth can get the highest results. More people are willing to pay for whiter, brighter teeth. Is tooth whitening, however, effective and safe?

What is Teeth Whitening/Bleaching? 

Tooth whitening, also known as tooth bleaching, is a procedure that involves lightening the colour of a patient's teeth. When teeth get yellowed over time for a variety of reasons, whitening is often desired, and it can be done by changing the intrinsic or extrinsic colour of the tooth enamel. Bleaching is the chemical breakdown of the chromogens within or on the tooth. The most common active ingredient in whitening cosmetics is hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which comes in two forms: hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide. When the stable complex comes into contact with water, hydrogen peroxide is released, similar to carbamide peroxide. 

Is teeth whitening safe

Yes, teeth whitening is safe if a professional dentist performs it. A dentist registered with Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) does know the exact procedure to perform it as it is a technique sensitive procedure. However, if you visit a quack, then there are high chances that your teeth and oral mucosa will get damaged severely as a layman or a quack cannot isolate soft tissues properly, and they will not be able to optimal proportion needed to whiten the teeth without damaging it. 

Who are quacks?

Quackery is a derogatory term that is most commonly used to describe someone who claims to be a doctor or dentist. Dental quacks are wreaking havoc on the dental profession. 'Quacks' are persons who self-taught a few dental procedures by aiding dentists or received it through their relatives, who were previously involved in quackery, and turned it into a vocation.  The quacks' procedures are exceedingly unpopular, damaging, and deadly, resulting in various problems, including the patient's death. They lack the ability to learn any instructional modules from a dental school.

How to differentiate between a quack and a professional dentist? 

Whenever you visit a dentist, ask them about the PMC number. Then you cannot check that number on the website of the Pakistan Medical Commission. If their name is not present on the website, then do not consent to treatment and report it to local authorities. 

Read more: Everything You Need To Know About The New Generation Of Fluoride

Conclusion

Tooth whitening, commonly known as tooth bleaching, is a cosmetic process that involves lightening a person's teeth's colour. Whitening is commonly desired when teeth get yellowed over time due to various factors. It can be performed by changing the intrinsic or extrinsic colour of the tooth enamel. Teeth whitening is safe when done by a qualified dentist. Because it is a technique-sensitive procedure, only a dentist registered with the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) knows the best possible way to conduct it.

Dr Muhammad Rafay Imran

-The author is sub-editor at Medical News Pakistan and can be reached at rafay.9000@gmail.com