The media often makes up hybrid words to represent a meaning in a pop-culture way. One such term that applies to cosmetic dentistry is bleachorexia. The term was coined to represent people who have an obsession with whitening their teeth to such an extreme extent that they might do damage to their mouths. While whitening is a safe procedure, when you expose your teeth and gums to the chemicals used for a course of professional whitening treatments (and even most over-the-counter kits) you need to give your body a break before you consider bleaching again.
Why Should You Need Professional Teeth Whitening?
There are different reasons that your teeth might succumb to staining. Tobacco use and dark colored food and drinks are the most common cause of discoloration. Certain medications (including tetracycline and some high blood pressure prescriptions) can cause teeth stains. Regardless of your history, over time, it’s inevitable that some dulling of your smile will occur. Whitening your teeth offers an easy and non-invasive way to take years off of your appearance.
What Happens When You Bleach Too Much?
If you become obsessed with bleaching, and make it a regular part of your life, you are likely to have some unpleasant side effects. The main symptom would be teeth sensitivity. General mouth irritation from constant exposure to chemicals will include your gum tissues. Unhealthy gums can make you more susceptible to gum disease and recession, leading other dental issues down the road. The erosion of your tooth enamel from over-bleaching can be a serious problem as well. This protective outer layer of your teeth wards off tooth decay. Once enamel is damaged, it doesn’t regenerate. So do yourself a favor and moderate your teeth whitening efforts for the best and healthiest results.
Visit Downey Family Dentistry
To schedule an appointment with our Downey, CA dental practice, call us at (562) 472-2433. Also, visit our website for services, testimonials, and to learn more about our team. We proudly treat patients from Workman, Hollydale, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, and surrounding cities.
