Toronto, Canada (PRWEB), December 24, 2014 — Princeview Dental (www.PrinceviewDental.com), one of Etobicoke’s premier dental clinics, is weighing in on the safety and effectiveness of alternative teeth whitening procedures, as improving one’s smile can be a popular New Year’s resolution.
“So many people are looking for a quick fix when it comes to whitening their teeth, especially around this time of year,” says Dr. Janice Mummery, founder of Princeview Dental. “We see people coming into our clinic who have used these whitening and specialized toothpastes, and although we’re not completely discouraging their use, people really need to be careful with some of the products and alternative methods of teeth whitening that are currently available.”
Dr. Mummery explains that some of these alternative methods can be dangerous to the health of the teeth if not used correctly. For instance, forceful brushing with whitening toothpaste can actually damage the gums and leaving tooth whitening strips longer than recommended or applying them incorrectly can cause gum irritation or uneven whitening.
“What worries me even more are these beauty salons conducting whitening using lasers; any such procedure should definitely be conducted by a professional,” she adds. “Getting your teeth their whitest is alluring, but it takes some work, and having what’s considered a medical procedure done by someone who is not licensed can have negative long-term effects on the teeth and gums.”
According to Dr. Mummery, hydrogen peroxide compounds are the only chemicals proven to whiten teeth. However, this substance shouldn’t be used in concentrations over 10%; higher concentrations do not improve the efficiency of teeth whitening, even though some concentrations of up to 50% are available over the Internet.
“It’s always best to at least check in with a dentist before trying any new means of whitening one’s teeth, whether you plan to do it as part of your New Year’s resolution or at any other time of year,” Dr. Mummery concludes. “Even when using alternative whitening methods, dentists will be able to assess the health of the patient’s teeth and gums, which are vital to a person’s overall health.”
Patients who wish to learn more about how to have the health of their teeth properly assessed can visit the Princeview Dental web site at www.PrinceviewDental.com.
