Question:
could anyone give me some help with detailing any side affects that may be
caused by using this home tooth whitening systems that are now avaliable.
ingredients: aqua glycerin, carbomer 974p, aroma, sodium hydroxide, citric
acid & methylparaben.
This tooth whitening kit is sold for £20.00 in the UK and during D.I.Y
treatments a small amount is bound to be swallowed - will this have cause
problems at a later date if used 4 times a day as the packaging states?
Answer:
Glycerin (also known as glycerol, or 1,2,3-propanetriol) tastes
sweet and should be harmless in small amounts). Carbomer 974p
sounds like a manufacturer's code for a chemical compound or
mixture. Aroma? Sodium hydroxide is a monobasic compound. Citric
acid is (if I recall correctly) a triprotic compound.
Methylparaben?
It's likely the stuff's been fed to laboratory animals without overt
harmfull effects. Why not call the maker of the product and ask
your question there?
In general the over the counter whitening systems here in the
UK are not especially effective due to the constraints placed on
"medical" products, which in this case this item is. Also last time I
read anything on the subject tooth whitening as carried out by the
dentist is also limited, as some loony eurocrat decided that it is a
procedure that must be carried out by the dentist personally. This
means that the method of providing a custom tray (which would fit a
damn sight better than any home made version, "boil and bite" or
otherwise) Then worn at night is therefore not allowed. Unless you
sleep with your dentist that is!!
There are some in surgery treatments still available (but not on the
NHS obviously)
I would also mention that any and all of these systems cannot be
guaranteed to change your natural tooth colour and any change is
liable to relapse rapidly.
For this reason I do not carry out vital tooth bleaching. The results
are too unpredictable and frequently disappointing.
Notice I have not said that the kit you have mentioned is dangerous,
just pointless.
I consider myself a conservative dentist. I believe that for the right
patient bleaching with a custom stent works well. Virtually all my
patients get lighter and are pleased. I initially was not enthusiastic
regarding bleaching. By 'right patient ' I mean tooth shade in the yellow
and/or orange range. Those in the gray range are best to save their money
