I want my teeth whitened. I was saving up for a dentist, but my roommate says we can just use laundry bleach and cotton balls. That doesn’t sound right to me. If people could just use bleach, why would anyone go to the dentist for teeth whitening?
Amelia J. – Berkeley, CA
Amelia,
You were wise to check. Your roommate is making a foolish and dangerous choice. It is not household bleach that whitens your teeth. Your dentist would never use laundry bleach, becuase he knows it is corrosive. If you or your roommate were to put any in your mouth, it would damage your oral cavities soft tissues.
Besides causing damage to your tissue in your mouth it also will harm your teeth. Bleach can remove moisture from your teeth. Without moisture, your teeth weaken and become brittle, making them more sensitive.
Additionally, bleach is a poison. There is a toxic chemicals in bleach called sodium hypochorite. Even small amounts of sodium hypocrite an cause problems if you swallow it, causing both vomiting and stomach irritation. If larger amounts are swallowed, then poisoning develops causing heart issues, coma, shock, and even death.
The best way for you to get your teeth whitened is to go the dentist’s office. Many dentists have two option for whitening for patients: in office or at-home. You can decide which one fits your schedule and budget.
This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Ryan Perry.