I have been bleaching my teeth myself for the past 2 years, at least every 2 weeks, sometimes every week. I leave the bleach on my teeth for 1 to 2 hours at a time. At first they looked beautiful but now I am getting scared that I have totally messed up. I guess I overdid it. Within the past 3 or 4 months my teeth have started looking very dull, somewhat gray. I have avoided my usual dentist because I didn’t go through him to get the bleaching gel. Could I have overdone it bleaching my teeth? Is there a way to reverse what I have done or have I messed up my teeth for good? Zoelle
Zoelle – Many people want an exceptionally white smile. Teeth bleaching gel contains carbamide peroxide, which if overused, can cause teeth to become brittle and discolored.
If you haven’t done so already, give your teeth a break from the bleaching gel. Use toothpaste that re-mineralizes your teeth, such as ProEnamel. If you are not comfortable returning to your current dentist, find an experienced cosmetic dentist to have your teeth examined. After examining your teeth, the dentist can tell you how extensive the damage is and whether or not your natural teeth can be recover from the over-bleaching, or if cosmetic dentistry is needed.
Cosmetic dentistry, including porcelain crowns, porcelain veneers, and dental bonding—depending on a patient’s case—can be used to beautifully restore teeth.
For our readers: Getting your teeth professionally whitened by a dentist helps ensure that teeth bleaching is right for you. Bleaching gel is available in different strengths, and a cosmetic dentist can determine which solution is best for your case. Also, your dentist is able to monitor the progress of the whitening and determine if adjustments need to me made.
This post is sponsored by Plano, TX family dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.