The short answer is yes.

Teeth whitening products work by using carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide which get deep into your tooth enamel and break apart the staining compounds. Neither of these active ingredients will damage your enamel in the ratios used in whitening products today. In addition, professional whitening products go through a ton of clinical studies and are reviewed by the American Dental Association.

Some patients experience tooth sensitivity and gum irritation from whitening but these symptoms quickly subside. Fluoride can help with both of these symptoms as well as protect tooth enamel.

If you have questions about whitening your teeth, call our office at 207-781-2448.

Last night I watched a movie, ate some popcorn, and got one of those pesky kernels stuck in my teeth. After aggressively fishing it out, I noticed my gum was bleeding a bit. That got me thinking about one of our most common questions from patients: “Why does flossing make my gums bleed?”

Generally, flossing should not cause your gum to bleed. If it does, consider it an early sign of periodontal (gum) disease and get yourself to a hygienist.

Flossing is important. When you brush and skip flossing, you miss cleaning 35% of your teeth. The harmful bacteria that is left behind causes irritation and inflammation. If left untreated, the bacteria can get into your bloodstream or cause irreversible jaw bone damage.

So the short answer is “No”. Flossing does not make your gums bleed. Bacteria and infection does.

-Sarah

If you have any questions about flossing or your oral health, we are happy to answer them. Call our office at 207-781-2448!