Your priority when whitening your teeth should be safety. Because the whitening process involves the use of strong bleaching agents, you need to take care not to damage your teeth or gums. Whitening your teeth for too long can damage tooth enamel. And using too much bleaching agent can damage your gum tissue. If safety is one of your prime concerns, use a dentist for teeth whitening.

If you use a registered dental professional for teeth whitening, you can rest assured that you will be in safe hands. Dentists trained to whiten teeth can whiten your teeth safely and effectively.

Dentists perform an assessment first

Before a dentist can whiten your teeth, they must first perform an assessment of your teeth and your oral health in general. Performing an oral assessment helps to:

• Identify causes of staining
• Check for tooth sensitivity
• Check for dental restorations
• Check for cavities or gum disease

This assessment helps your dentist to ensure that you can get the best out of your teeth whitening treatment while remaining safe. For instance, if your dentist discovers that you have cavities, they will suggest that you treat the cavities before whitening your teeth. This is because the whitening agent can enter cavities and cause pain. The whitening agent may also damage teeth with cavities.

Dentists can treat teeth for sensitivity before whitening

During the initial assessment, if your dentist discovers that you have sensitive teeth, they can provide treatments. For instance, a dentist can treat teeth with fluoride a few days before teeth whitening. This helps to reduce sensitivity during and after a whitening treatment.

Dentists protect your gums with gel or barriers

Whitening agents like carbamide peroxide can damage gum tissue. So it is important to protect your gums during the whitening process. Dentists protect their patients' gum tissue with rubber barriers and special gels.  

Dentists use custom whitening trays designed for your teeth

Dentists use whitening trays to whiten teeth during in-office whitening. Although you can purchase whitening trays from a pharmacy, those trays seldom fit properly. This is because they were not designed for the shape of your mouth and teeth. However, your dentist will take an impression of your mouth, and then use that impression to create a whitening tray that fits your mouth snugly.

The better a whitening tray fits, the safer your teeth and gums will be during the teeth whitening process.

The best way to avoid damaging your teeth and gums while whitening your teeth is to use a dental care professional. Seek out a dentist who has the training and experience to provide professional and safe teeth whitening. 

For more information, contact a local dentist.