Home Bleaching Kits Could Cause Irritation

Tooth bleaching is all the rage, and can wash away years of stains from aging, smoking or coffee. But do-it-yourself tooth whiteners, for those who want to avoid the expense of having their dentist perk up their pearly whites, can cause infections, nerve damage or gum irritation, experts warn.

The bleaching kits, which are sold in most drugstores, contain concentrated bleaching agents applied in a paste or gel and held in place with a mouth guard. Without a dentist’s supervision, however, problems can crop up.

In a person with deep cavities, the bleach (usually composed of hydrogen peroxide) can seep inside the tooth, eroding blood vessels, nerves and bones at the root of the tooth. “Worst case scenario is that the patients need a root canal,” says David D. McFadden, associate professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Bleaching can also corrode the enamel or cause ultra-sensitivity to cold. And ill-fitting mouth guards may allow the bleach to leak onto the gums, which can irritate and damage the tissue.

But there is a simple solution: brushing regularly. “If people would brush more often,” says McFadden, “it would reduce the amount of stain that accumulates.”