Can Teeth Whitening Damage Gums?

asked 6 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Edgard El Chaar, DDS
Question viewed 9,658 times
Tags: gums, risk

I want to get my teeth whitened but I’m scared of hurting my gums. I’ve heard the bleaching can cause permanent damage. What’s the best choice to take for whiter teeth that doesn’t require weeks of treatments at home?

8 answers to Can Teeth Whitening Damage Gums?

Gums and Teeth Whitening

Accurately fitting trays are crucial to ensure that the gums are not affected with the teeth whitening gel when home whitening is being carried out. During Power laser whitening your dentist will ensure that the gums are not affected by using a protective barrier.

Gursh Bajwa, BDS
London Cosmetic Dentist

Gum damage from tooth whitening

The material used in take home tooth whitening can actually be beneficial to the gums. If the tray that the material is placed in is not made properly, then it can irritate the gums, but this is generally a temporary situation. In-office whitening uses a stronger version of the same material. The gums should get a protective barrier before the whitening material is applied because it will cause a chemical burn if it sits on the gum tissue during the entire procedure. If this occurs, the... more

Richard Champagne, DMD
Freehold Cosmetic Dentist

Gums and teeth whitening

Your gums can be damaged with using whitening products in an incorrect manner. The best way to whiten your teeth is to have it done professionally. Over the counter products are not customized for each individual, sothere is a higher risk of problems.

Edgard El Chaar, DDS
New York Cosmetic Dentist

Fit of the tray is very important.

A custom fit tray is a very important factor to prevent irritation of the gums from whitening gel. If gums are irritated during whitening, they will heal. Prevention is always best. Have your dentist check the fit of your trays before starting any whitening. A well fitting tray with a strong whitening gel, should take the average person about 7-10 days to see desired results. A 35% gel is worn for 30 minutes per day.

Kimberly Johnson Genc, DDS
Newport Beach Cosmetic Dentist

Moderate your usage

Using all things moderation! Over the counter products which are not PH neutral, whitening toothpaste (which is very abrasive) or bleaching trays for an excessive amount of time (more than 1-2 hours per day) can cause gingival irritation. Continued abuse can permanently damage gums. Zoom whitening, a two hour in office visit, is the shortest most effective treatment plan. Using take home trays to touch up occasionally is always helpful.

Benjamin S. Fiss, DDS
Chicago Cosmetic Dentist

Whitening material can damage the gum temporarily

Home kit whitening or office whitening both are based on gum protection. It is better protect the gum at whitening however any damage to the gum in not permanent, but it can hurt the patient and make some pain.

Bruce Vafa, DDS
Beverly Hills Cosmetic Dentist

Proper use of teeth whitening material

If you decide you want to use a take home whitening gel you should always have custom made bleaching trays. You want a tray that contours to your teeth and gums, do not use a generic one size fits all tray. Remember that when dispensing the gel into the tray that you only want to use enough to cover the surface of each tooth. When you place the tray in your mouth and you have excess that over flows onto your gums, simply use a q-tip or your toothbrush and remove any excess. If you decide to... more

Jacqueline Fulop-Goodling, DMD
New York Orthodontist

Temporary discomfort only

Like many inventions, bleaching teeth was discovered as a by product of TREATING gums. While the concentrations have been altered, hydrogen peroxide is very good for the gums. People reporting negatively about gums being affected are merely reporting the temporary discomfort after tissue is chemically treated. The best results include home treatments, but in office treatments have their place as well.

Lance Timmerman, DMD
Seattle Cosmetic Dentist

Ask a question

Get Free Email Updates