According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, tooth whitening has also become the most requested type of cosmetic dental service. However, excessive teeth whitening can carry lots of risk and cause painful damage to your teeth. Dentists say a growing number of Americans obsessed with whitening their teeth are using bright smiles to cover up a dark secret: bleachorexia.
Bleachorexics experience a kind of dental dysmorphia, or obsession with their appearance, abusing over-the-counter whitening products to the point that their teeth begin to erode, causing lasting damage.
Why has there been such an increase in bleachorexia? The low price of whitening products - about $40 for a box of brand-name whitening strips - has made it easy for bleach enthusiasts to double up on treatments.What they don't realized immediately, is that there are more health costs involved.
Carbamide peroxide, the whitening agent in bleach, can irritate gums, causing them to bleed and recede.
Over-whitening can also cause teeth to become thin and brittle and can lead to high sensitivity and discoloration as tooth enamel becomes translucent.
In some cases, teeth have to be capped or replaced because of thinning enamel.
That hasn't stopped the tooth-whitening business from become a booming industry. From in-office treatments to at-home kits, Americans spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year on bleaching products.
Still dying to flash those pearly whites? Safe bleaching is possible, experts say.
People looking to brighten up their smile should consult with a dentist first and wait six months between whitening treatments. They should also stick to name brands if using over-the-counter products and stop treatment if they experience any discoloration or sensitivity.
"Bleaching is very effective in moderation and it's safe in moderation," Dr. Jennifer Jablow told ABC News. "It's when you're bleaching all the time, beyond what is recommended - that's when you run into problems."
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Teeth Whitening, often referred to as bleaching is a highly effective and affordable procedure that whitens teeth and leaves them feeling ultra-clean. Foods, dark liquids such as tea, coffee, red wine and juices, smoke, some prescribed medication, a lack of proper oral hygiene, the aging process, trauma and even genetics call all cause your teeth to loose their whiteness. Teeth whitening is one of the simplest ways to give you a brighter, whiter smile.
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As we age, our teeth lose the brilliant whiteness that implies good dental health and youth. The unsightly stains associated with tobacco, dark liquids, and other factors can leave us feeling less-than-confident about our smiles. Fortunately, there is a simple solution to this dental problem: cosmetic tooth whitening.
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