Many people get their teeth whitened to improve their smiles and give their teeth a healthier looking appearance. There are many teeth whitening aids on the market that you can buy at your local store, including whitening strips, toothpaste and gel. While you may be tempted to save yourself some time and money whitening your teeth at home and avoiding the dentist, there are actually many reasons why home whitening for your teeth is a bad idea. Here are just three reasons why you should go to your dentist to brighten your smile rather than doing it yourself at home.

You can have irregular results

Many home remedies or treatments for teeth whitening involve using hydrogen peroxide to bleach teeth and remove stains. If you use too much product on your teeth or unevenly use strips or toothpaste, you can have irregular results. Rather than risk whitening some teeth more than others or completely over-bleaching your smile for an unnatural grin, talk to your dentist about treatments you can do in their office instead.

You can damage your mouth

Another reason to call your dentist for teeth whitening treatments is that you can actually damage your pearly whites at home if you try to bleach or whiten them yourself. Abrasive products in whitening strips or toothpaste can damage your tooth enamel, which can be hard to reverse once done. Furthermore, you can accidentally bleach your gums along with your teeth, which can cause inflammation, sensitivity, or even sores.

You can miss knowing why your teeth are discolored

You should always see the dentist for any kind of oral issue with your teeth so you can find out what is causing your dental issues. Yellow or brown teeth can be caused by stains from the foods or beverages you consume, tooth decay and even fluoride consumption. When you simply whiten your teeth at home instead of going to your dentist, you miss out on the opportunity to find out why your teeth aren't as white as they used to be. Make an appointment with your dentist to make sure there are no underlying issues with your teeth that need immediate attention before addressing cosmetic issues.

There are many ways you can whiten your teeth for a healthier looking and younger smile, but you should see your dentist before you try anything at home. Your dentist will be able to help you whiten your teeth without causing any damage so you can enjoy your grin to its fullest.

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