Most people, if not everyone, would go above and beyond in order to have pearly whites. From using bleach to gargling with charcoal, the trends and fads that are out in the marketplace these days for obtaining white and bright teeth do not seem to end. That being said, however, a lot of these approaches do not work and, in some cases, can be very dangerous. On that premise, the following article presents some teeth whitening side effects that everyone should know of.

Tooth sensitivity

During the whitening process and after a short period of time following it, a lot of individuals might experience tooth sensitivity. This is because the dentin layer is exposed during the whitening process. That being said, it is imperative to consult a dentist for advice on the most suitable teeth whitening options and products to use in order to alleviate tooth sensitivity before deciding on going through with this procedure.

Soft tissue irritation

Another side effect that some people might experience following the teeth whitening process is soft tissue irritation or chemical burn. This chemical burn might happen if the whitening product is exposed to the individual’s gum tissue throughout the process. When soft tissue irritation happens, the gums will look more white upon contact with the teeth whitening chemicals and, in some cases, inflammation and redness might occur in the affected area. While a lot of people get alarmed upon seeing this, their gum tissue will eventually return to normal after a very short period of time.

Undesirable results

Depending on the individual’s original teeth shade, the end results may not be what they were hoping for. For instance, if an individual has tooth discoloration or stains, then there is a huge probability that they will notice a change in the shade of their teeth after the teeth whitening process. Also, those who have caps, crowns, fillings or veneers might notice that the whitening solution might not work on them at all. In addition to that, in some cases, whitening the teeth too often can make them appear translucent or greyish in color, in contradistinction to the white creamy shade that most people want to see after whitening their teeth.