Most people who use whiten their teeth experience few or no side effects and are satisfied with the results. However, some people may encounter one or more side effects associated with teeth whitening. Tooth sensitivity and soft tissue irritation are two common ones.
Jose Luis Pelaez Inc. / Blend Images / Getty Images
Side effects of teeth whitening may vary depending on whether you are doing an at-home treatment or get a professional one. They may also depend on the whitening agent, which can include:
This article discusses the types of teeth whitening products available and a few common side effects they can cause. It also explains why it’s important to speak to a dental health professional before you use them.
The 9 Best Teeth Whitening Kits, Tested and Reviewed
Tooth Sensitivity
Whitening products tend to cause sensitivity to teeth during the whitening process and for a short period after the procedure. This is due to the exposure of the innerdentinlayerduring the whitening process.
If you have tooth sensitivity before you decide to whiten, consult your dentist beforehand for advice on what teeth whitening options are suitable for your situation.
Your dentist can also give you a list of brands of whitening products that may help alleviate the increased level of sensitivity during the whitening process.
10 Strategies to Cope With Teeth Whitening Sensitivity
Soft Tissue Irritation
Also known as a chemical burn, soft tissue irritation may occur if the whitening solution is exposed to the gum tissue during the whitening process.
When soft tissue irritation occurs, your gums will generally appear white immediately after they come into contact with the whitening solution, especially if you’ve gotten a professional treatment.
The tissue does return to normal very shortly after exposure to the chemicals in the whitening product, but many patients are alarmed when they see their gums after exposure to a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide orcarbamide peroxide.
In extreme cases of soft tissue irritation from whitening solution, bleeding and pain in the gum tissue may occur.
Undesirable Results
Depending on the initial shade of your teeth, the results achieved after whitening your teeth may not be what you were hoping for. If you have heavy staining or internal tooth discoloration, you may not notice a change in the shade of your teeth after whitening.
If you whiten your teeth too often, you may notice that your teeth begin to appear gray or translucent, as opposed to a creamy white shade.
Additionally, if you have caps, crowns, veneers, or fillings, the whitening solution won’t work on them. This may mean color variations between your teeth.
Summary
Before you decide to whiten your teeth, it’s best to consult with your dentist. They will assess your teeth to see if you’re a good candidate for tooth whitening procedures and if they’ll work on your particular discoloration.
What to Expect from Professional Teeth Whitening
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Epple M, Meyer F, Enax J.A Critical Review of Modern Concepts for Teeth Whitening.Dent J (Basel). 2019 Aug 1;7(3):79. doi:10.3390/dj7030079.Alqahtani MQ.Tooth-bleaching procedures and their controversial effects: A literature review.The Saudi dental journal. 2014;26(2):33-46. doi:10.1016/j.sdentj.2014.02.002
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Epple M, Meyer F, Enax J.A Critical Review of Modern Concepts for Teeth Whitening.Dent J (Basel). 2019 Aug 1;7(3):79. doi:10.3390/dj7030079.Alqahtani MQ.Tooth-bleaching procedures and their controversial effects: A literature review.The Saudi dental journal. 2014;26(2):33-46. doi:10.1016/j.sdentj.2014.02.002
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Epple M, Meyer F, Enax J.A Critical Review of Modern Concepts for Teeth Whitening.Dent J (Basel). 2019 Aug 1;7(3):79. doi:10.3390/dj7030079.Alqahtani MQ.Tooth-bleaching procedures and their controversial effects: A literature review.The Saudi dental journal. 2014;26(2):33-46. doi:10.1016/j.sdentj.2014.02.002
Epple M, Meyer F, Enax J.A Critical Review of Modern Concepts for Teeth Whitening.Dent J (Basel). 2019 Aug 1;7(3):79. doi:10.3390/dj7030079.
Alqahtani MQ.Tooth-bleaching procedures and their controversial effects: A literature review.The Saudi dental journal. 2014;26(2):33-46. doi:10.1016/j.sdentj.2014.02.002
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
