Bleaching and tooth enamel - is that compatible?

March 24, 2022

A common prejudice that comes up again and again when it comes to “bleaching” concerns tooth enamel. Tooth whitening products are bad for the tooth enamel and would damage the teeth in the long term. Today we want to take a closer look at this prejudice.

What actually is tooth enamel?

Tooth enamel is the outermost protective layer of our teeth. It protects the teeth from harmful bacteria and harmful acids that can get into the mouth through eating. The tooth is also protected from mechanical wear. Tooth enamel has an average thickness of 2,5 millimeters and is one of the hardest substances in the human body. So it seems understandable that many are concerned about their tooth enamel and want to protect it.

The reason for the exceptional hardness is a fluorine compound called hydroxyapatite. This crystalline material is the reason that water-soluble substances such as fluoride can penetrate the tooth enamel. Fluoride then in turn penetrates the tooth and hardens into fluoride apatite, which is much harder. This is the main reason why fluoride is also used in toothpastes.

In addition to these mineral compounds, the tooth enamel also consists of the so-called tooth enamel epidermis. This cuticle is brushed away when you brush your teeth and has to form anew every time. Like tooth enamel, it has a protective and repairing function.

How bleaching and enamel are related

Reports keep coming up that bleaching with hydrogen peroxide causes lasting damage to tooth enamel and that would increase the sensitivity of the teeth. That's true, but only to a limited extent. The decisive factor for the sensitivity of the teeth is the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. If this is highly concentrated, an application with hydrogen peroxide increases the sensitivity of the teeth in the long term. In addition, there is increasing evidence of demineralization of tooth enamel.

However, these facts do not apply at a low concentration of the bleaching agent hydrogen peroxide. At OnlySmile, for example, we only use 0,1% hydrogen peroxide. When used correctly, this concentration is far too low to cause lasting damage to tooth enamel. That concludes our bleaching sets safe and pleasant to use when used correctly.

The safety and comfort of our customers is always our top priority at OnlySmile. Nevertheless, some customers may react to our products with increased sensitivity or pain. We therefore ask that you carefully check the ingredients for allergens and, in the event of symptoms, that you speak to your dentist for advice.

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