Plaque buildup after DIY whitening can be an unpleasant consequence of wanting to have white teeth and relying on unprofessional remedies.
Teeth whitening is one of the treatments of aesthetic dentistry, that is the branch of dentistry that mainly deals with intervening on the aesthetics of the smile.
Difference between aesthetic treatment and do-it-yourself whitening
When we talk about cosmetic dentistry, we refer to all those treatments that aim to improve the patient’s aesthetics and correct what are the main defects of the teeth:
- yellow teeth;
- stains on the teeth;
- black teeth;
- enamel too abraded.
In these cases it is possible to intervene with different dental aesthetic treatments:
- professional teeth whitening;
- dental veneers;
- dental crowns;
- tooth restoration.
In particular, whitening is applied to stains on the teeth and it is common to find products on the market that can be applied at home or even recipes to make whitening products yourself.
Plaque build-up after DIY bleaching
Homemade teeth whitening remedies or commercial products for sale often disappoint those who use them for two main reasons:
- a result far below expectations, because not all teeth become pure white as the product advertises;
- increased plaque buildup after bleaching.
The first reason is linked to the fact that the effectiveness of whitening is linked to the specific peculiarities of the enamel of each individual.
The second reason is linked to the fact that the whitening products on the market in supermarkets are based on carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. These are safe products, but applying them at home and independently sometimes determines errors in the methods or duration of the application, causing side effects.
The problem of increased plaque build-up following a DIY bleaching treatment is due to the impact that chemical reagents have on the oral microbiota.
A study was published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene that links bleaching agents and oral biofilms.
Analyzing the indices of plaque and the presence of gingivitis in patients who had done a do-it-yourself teeth whitening and comparing them with a placebo or no treatment group, the researchers identified conditions in which, following the whitening treatment, there is an increase in the accumulation of plaque inside of the oral cavity.
When plaque buildup occurs
The research revealed a particular condition that would lead, after a do-it-yourself whitening, to a greater accumulation of plaque.
DIY whitening products are almost always characterized by chemicals with an acidic pH. These are whitening treatments that have a pH below the neutral value of 5.5, a whitening product with pH 4.5 is a product with an acidic pH.
This type of products on the market, with pH 4.5, alter the oral microbiota favoring an acid pH environment, a condition that favors the increase of bacterial plaque and therefore of the pathologies associated with it:
- caries;
- gingivitis;
- periodontitis.
Avoid the accumulation of plaque
Relying on a competent dentist who can apply a professional whitening treatment means avoiding unpleasant consequences for oral health.
