Is Your Tooth Whitening Agent Causing Swollen Gums?

Do you have swollen gums? Are your swollen gums a precursor to any one of the dreaded oral diseases? Is it possible in your case swollen gums are due to an allergic reaction?

Even though the common wisdom dictates swollen gums are usually a sign of poor oral hygiene, impending dental illness or a serious issue, there is a new cause that may be blamed for swollen gums. The new cause is tooth whitening agents! To narrow it down further, the complaints are coming in particularly about the do-it-yourself tooth whitening kits. While they may be convenient and inexpensive, they may also be wrecking havoc on your mouth!

You may have noticed in the last couple of years American society has become virtually obsessed with the appearance of white teeth. Showcased by prominent television and news personalities, white teeth have quickly become a symbol of health, wealth and beauty. Stained teeth are considered now to be a sign of ill health and aging. Darkening of the tooth enamel is caused by the progression in age, by the use of tobacco, tea, coffee, soy based chocolate shakes, antibiotics and even excess fluoride.

In response, more patients are asking their dentist about teeth whitening. Those who are more affluent may consent to a laser whitening while those with more modest purses will most likely settle for the night guard option. In this case the dentist will prepare a mold of the teeth and when the completed mold is received, it will form a tray in which a bleaching agent is poured. Since the mold fits the teeth like a glove, the teeth are exposed to a maximum level and the whitening is virtually seamless. However for some, even this option is too expensive.

These consumers may visit the grocery store and purchase one of the many over the counter tooth whitening systems. Some use a tray into which a peroxide based solution is poured, while others opt for strips which are attached to the teeth. Although by far the least expensive method of tooth whitening, it is also the one most subject to failure. These over-the-counter options are not failures because they don’t work, but because of human error. For example, some patients may believe more is better. Rather than limiting their teeth’s exposure to the whitening agent, they may choose to overuse it. This can cause a severe allergic reaction.

Dentists will notice patients with semi translucent teeth, swollen gums, gum irritation from chemical burns and even the receding of gums! Is your tooth whitening agent causing swollen gums? Even if you have resisted the urge of investing money in a tooth whitening kit, your gums may still be affected by the tooth bleaching agents now routinely included in some mouthwashes and toothpastes.