Hollywood has put a premium on physical attractiveness and people are always trying to keep up with the latest celebrity trends. A new phenomenon is the obsession with white teeth and people are trying anything to get the perfect smile. Bright, white smiles, which used to be a luxury, is now attainable and affordable for everyone with the introduction of over-the-counter whitening strips. The daily routine of brushing and flossing is now being partnered with 30-minute whitening routine for some Americans.
Popularity of Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening has now become the most requested cosmetic dental service today and its popularity is only growing, according to a survey in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Whitening has become just as popular outside the dental office as well. This year, Americans will spend more than $1.5 billion on over-the-counter teeth whitening products.
Side Effects of Whitening
The cost some people are paying for white teeth is becoming much more than monetary. About half of people who bleached their teeth experienced some sensitivity in a Journal of the American Dental Association survey. The level of sensitivity ranged from slight tingling to extreme sensitivity to air. Side effects, such as tooth sensitivity and gum irritation, can pass with time, but tooth translucency, a more serious side effect, is irreversible.
Bleaching Can Lead to Addiction
Some people are even getting addicted to teeth whitening, and continue to bleach, despite having extremely white teeth. People with this addiction are being referred to as "bleachorexics" in the media.
"You can become addicted to anything," says Tibor Palfai Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Syracuse University. "If something is extremely pleasant for you, it actually changes your brain and you will seek that all the time. People with white teeth get so many compliments that they want to have it even whiter."
Syracuse dentist, Lynnwood J. Bennerson D.D.S., says he has encountered people with this affliction and as a health care professional advised them to discontinue.
"If you are looking at a patient that is essentially over-bleaching and you have told them that they can do harm and they continue. Then, you are looking at not a dental problem, but a psychological problem." says Dr. Bennerson.
What Others Say
Despite the physical and psychological risks, people continue to whiten their teeth with these products. But, not everyone is buying into the recent whitening craze.
"I think it is just a phase like everything else," says Syracuse resident Tracy Raymond.
Teeth whitening may have its doubters, but some think the future of these products is as bright as the smiles it creates.
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