Next time you are shopping you might be tempted to grab one of those kits or products that promise to help you brighten and whiten your smile, but before you buy any of these products you will want to consult with your dentist.

Why Should You Consult with a Dentist about Teeth Whitening?

There are several reasons why you should consult with your dentist before trying any at-home teeth whitening products.

Those reasons include:

• Protecting your teeth and gums by making sure you only use safe products
• Assessing your teeth to make sure they are healthy enough for teeth whitening
• Saving you money by using products that have been tested and proven to work

Protect Your Teeth and Gums from Potential Damage Caused by Teeth Whitening Products

There is really very little oversight or regulations when it comes to creating and selling teeth whitening products. Any company or manufacturer can create a product, claim it whitens your teeth, and sell it in a store. This means the product you pick out could cause damage to your teeth and gums.

Since there is no one to regulate the products, the product that you choose to use could contain harmful ingredients that could result in the damage of your teeth and gums. Even if the product doesn’t contain harmful ingredients, there is still a huge possibility that you could damage your teeth and gums by not using the product properly.

Discussing teeth whitening options with your dentist will help you avoid damaging your teeth by making sure you are only using products that are safe and approved.

Teeth Whitening Should Only be Done on Healthy Teeth and Gums

Tiny dental problems like irritated gums or a cavity can cause you to feel extreme pain or prolonged sensitivity long after you have stopped your teeth whitening treatment. In an effort to prevent any unnecessary pain or increased sensitivity, teeth whitening procedures should only be done on healthy teeth and gums. The only way to tell if your teeth and gums are healthy enough for teeth whitening is to consult with your dentist.

Your dentist will be able to conduct a complete assessment of your overall oral health. If any problems are found, your dentist will be able to come up with a treatment plan that will address these issues and make it safe for you to eventually get your teeth whitened.

Save Money by Using Only Trusted Teeth Whitening Methods

People are often drawn to the idea of using at-home teeth whitening kits or products because they are a fraction of the cost of a professional teeth whitening procedure. While they may be cheaper, they could end up costing you more money in the long run.

The at-home teeth whitening products are cheaper, but many of them haven’t been proven to work. This mean you could purchase the product and it would never whiten your teeth.

When you consult with a dentist about teeth whitening options, you are getting recommendations that have been tested and proven to work. The teeth whitening treatment options given to you by your dentist have undergone intensive testing to make sure they not only work, but are safe.

Make an Appointment to Discuss Teeth Whitening Treatment Options with Dr. Shields

People who live in the Jacksonville, Florida area can schedule an appointment with Dr. Shields at Smiles by Shields to discuss teeth whitening treatment options. Before making any recommendations, Dr. Shields will take the time to learn more about what type of results you expect to see from your teeth whitening treatment. After learning about what results you expect, Dr. Shields will be able to provide you with teeth whitening treatment recommendations that will help you get a bright, white smile.

Call our office today to schedule an appointment to discuss teeth whitening treatment options with Dr. Shields. We look forward to seeing you at our office!