April 23, 2009 – Commercial Teeth Whitening Products Eradicate Tooth Enamel, US Study Finds1. However, we are talking about erosion of the order of a nanometer.
The study looked at five whitening products2 in the form of strips or gel applied using trays. Fifty tooth samples were processed over a period of ten days to three weeks, depending on the product used. The study showed that all whitening products reduced tooth enamel by 1.2 to 2 nanometers. In contrast, teeth that did not receive whitening treatment gained 0.4 nanometers of enamel during the same period.
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Less white teeth? |
“There is no need to be alarmed,” says Dr.r Serge Langlois, president of the Association of dental surgeons of Quebec. A loss of enamel of this microscopic order is not harmful and does not affect the hardness or the resistance of the teeth. Plus, tooth enamel regenerates naturally in a matter of weeks or months, he adds.
The study also showed that, depending on the type of treatment, teeth lost 6% to 19% of their elasticity. Although they are rigid, the teeth have a certain elasticity to resist impact. The loss of tooth enamel and elasticity was the same regardless of the concentration of bleach. The products tested contained either 9%, 10% or 14% hydrogen peroxide or 22% carbamide peroxide.
Cleaning or bleaching?
Dentist Claire Deschamps, who has performed whitening treatments for more than 20 years, warns the public against the craze for these products sold in pharmacies. “Stains on teeth caused by foods like coffee or tobacco can sometimes easily disappear with a good cleaning,” she explains. A tooth with a darker shade may however require bleaching using a more concentrated product that will act on the pigment of the tooth. “
The Ordre des dentistes du Québec and the Canadian Dental Association recommend consulting a dentist before undertaking a teeth whitening treatment. “Fillings, the presence of cavities, exposed roots or gums in poor condition can reduce the effectiveness of a whitening treatment or cause unpleasant side effects, such as hypersensitivity of the teeth,” explains Claire Deschamps.
The Canadian Dental Association mentions on its website that the long-term effects of whitening treatments3whether done at a dentist or at home, “are still unknown and need to be researched, especially since treatment results are not permanent and many people end up undergoing periodic whitening treatments. “.
Emmanuelle Bergeron – PasseportSanté.net
1. Azer SS, Machado C, et al. Effect of home bleaching systems on enamel nanohardness and elastic modulus, J Tooth. 2009 Mar; 37 (3): 185-90.
2. The whitening products tested were Crest Whitestrips Premium Plus, Crest Whitestrips Supreme, and Nite White ACP, Oral B Rembrandt and Trèswhite Opalescence aligners.
3. To learn more about the different teeth whitening techniques, visit the website.Canadian Dental Association.
