Bleaching and tooth enamel – do they go together?

A common prejudice that arises again and again when it comes to "bleaching" concerns tooth enamel. It is said that teeth whitening products are bad for tooth enamel and would cause lasting damage to the teeth. Today, we want to take a closer look at this prejudice.

What is actually tooth enamel?

Tooth enamel is the outermost protective layer of our teeth. It protects the teeth from harmful bacteria and harmful acids that can enter the oral cavity through food intake. The tooth is also protected from mechanical wear. On average, tooth enamel has a thickness of 2.5 millimeters and is one of the hardest substances in the human body. It is therefore understandable that many are concerned about their tooth enamel and want to preserve it.

The reason for the extraordinary hardness is a fluorine compound called hydroxyapatite. This crystalline material is the reason, that water-soluble substances such as fluoride can penetrate the tooth enamelFluoride then penetrates the tooth and hardens into fluorapatite, which is significantly harder. This is the main reason why fluoride is also used in toothpaste.

In addition to these mineral compounds, tooth enamel also consists of the so-called enamel pellicle. This pellicle is worn away during brushing and must regenerate each time. Like tooth enamel, it has a protective and repair function.

How bleaching and tooth enamel are related

Always reports come up that bleaching with hydrogen peroxide can permanently damage the tooth enamel and the Increasing the sensitivity of the teeth would. That is true, but only to a certain extent. The decisive factor for tooth sensitivity is the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. If it is highly concentrated, an application with hydrogen peroxide sustainably increases tooth sensitivity. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence of demineralization of the tooth enamel.

These facts do not apply at a low concentration of the bleaching agent hydrogen peroxide. At OnlySmile, we only use 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. This concentration is far too low to sustainably damage the tooth enamel when used correctly.. This makes our bleaching sets safe and pleasant to use when applied correctly.

The safety and comfort of our customers Customer satisfaction is always our top priority at OnlySmile. However, it may be that some customers with increased sensitivity or pain react to our products. We therefore ask for a careful examination of the ingredients for allergens and, in case of symptoms, for a consultative discussion with your respective dentist.