I enjoy bleaching my teeth and do it at least once a month since my “official” bleaching treatments ended. My dentist let me keep my trays. Now, for some reason, my gums are receding and the edges of my teeth are gray. Did I get some bad bleach?
Gina D. – Alabama
Gina,
The issue isn’t a problem with the bleach, but with over bleaching your teeth. It really is possible to have too much of a good thing. In this case it is bleach. When the whitening agent is overused, it will not only cause your gums to recede, but can also make your teeth quite brittle. Another consequence is the edges of your teeth becoming gray or translucent. This sounds exactly like what is going on with you.
It will be very important that you remineralize your teeth. You also need to stop teeth whitening for quite some time. I’m rather frustrated that your dentist didn’t warn you about this. I’m assuming, of course, that he provided the bleaching gels to you as you ran out. He’d know how much you were using.
To remineralize your teeth get a toothpaste like Sensodyne pro enamel. You’ll also want to get in and see your dentist. He can tell you how much damage has been done.
This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Ryan Perry.