UV Rays Used in Tooth Whitening Can Cause Damage

Treatments for Pearly White Teeth Can Hurt Skin and Eyes

Jan 30, 2009 Christine Nyholm

Cosmetic procedures to whiten teeth may use UV light that can cause sunburn like radiation damage to the skin and eyes.

Pearly white teeth are coveted by the fashion and beauty conscious, but there is research that suggests that getting that “Tom Cruise” smile can cost more than money. Some tooth whitening methods can affect heath, particularly the eyes and skin.

UV Rays Can Cause Radiation Damage

An article in the Royal Society of Chemistry Journal, titled “Tom Cruise smile comes with a sunburn price,” states that tooth whitening treatments that use UV light treatments are particularly damaging. The UV light used for tooth whitening treatments cause more damage to skin and eyes than a day of sun bathing, due to radiation exposure.

A study in Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences reported that light treatment gives absolutely no benefit over bleaching without UV. The light treatment damages skin and eyes up to four times as much as sunbathing, due to radiation from the lamps.

Damage from radiation is an even greater risk for fair skinned and light sensitive people, just as in sunbathing, according to lead author Ellen Bruzell of the Nordic Institute of Dental Materials.

Bleaching Can Weaken Teeth

Bleaching itself can damage teeth, according to Bruzell. According to the press release on the Royal Society of Chemistry Journal, Bruzell saw more exposed grooves on the enamel surface of bleached teeth than on unbleached teeth. These grooves make the teeth more vulnerable to mechanical stress, weakening the structure of the teeth which can increase the risk of cracking and breaking.

Tooth Bleaching a Cosmetic Treatment

Tooth bleaching is one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments available. It uses a bleaching agent – usually hydrogen peroxide – to remove yellow and brown stains, such as those from red wine, tea and coffee, and smoking.

There are various tooth whitening treatments available to the consumer. The strongest and most effective formulas are available from dentists. Consumers can purchase weaker formulas over the counter, at drugstores. Whitening agents are in whitening toothpastes, over the counter gels, whitening strips and in kits with trays.

A dentist can provide a stronger and more effective tooth whitening agent that the patient can use at home. The dentist provided kits are similar to the trays and gels found at the drugstore, but the concentration of the whitening formula is higher.

In office bleaching is supposed to be the quickest and most effective way to whiten teeth. The whitening agent is applied directly to the teeth. A special UV light, or laser, can be used to accelerate the whitening process.

UV light is claimed to further activate the oxidation process, improving bleaching efficiency. The authors of this Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences article say there is very little substantive evidence to support this claim, and their new study finds no benefit to using UV light.

Resources

Royal Society of Chemistry Journal, titled “Tom Cruise smile comes with a sunburn price,”

WebMd Oral Health Guide Teeth Whitening

Stress May Cause Neglect of Dental Care

The copyright of the article UV Rays Used in Tooth Whitening Can Cause Damage in General Medicine is owned by Christine Nyholm. Permission to republish UV Rays Used in Tooth Whitening Can Cause Damage in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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