I want my teeth whitened. I am 16 and I work so I have money for it. My mom told me she won’t approve this until I am 21. This is unreal to me. I am in private school and my school has 9th graders who have gotten their teeth whitened already and I have to wait until I am 21? My mom is the kind of person who needs the facts. So could you please be very specific about the minimum age for teeth whitening? Thanks. Alyson
Alyson – A lot of research has been done on the effects of teeth whitening, but most of it has been done on adult patients. There isn’t enough data to determine whether teeth bleaching is safe for children. There are several factors to be concerned about:
- Gum tissue irritation – Gum-tissue irritation most frequently occurs from bleaching trays that don’t fit well. The bleaching gel can ooze out of the trays and burns your gums. It’s important to receive customized trays from a dentist.
- Tooth sensitivity – Each tooth has a pulp chamber. The chamber contains pulp—living tissue and nerves that keep your tooth alive and healthy. The pulp chamber in children and adolescents is larger than the pulp chamber of adults. An enlarged pulp chamber produces more sensitivity than normal. Whitening your teeth while your teeth are not fully developed can be quite uncomfortable.
At age 16, your teeth might be fully developed and safe to whiten, but only an examination from a dentist can tell if it’s okay to whiten your teeth at your age. Since you are a minor, dental treatment, including whitening your teeth, requires the consent of your parents. Your mom might be willing to speak with your dentist about teeth whitening, but keep in mind that some dentists do not whiten teenagers’ teeth at all.
If your mom still is not agreeable to you getting your teeth whitened, be patient. Do what you can now to maintain good oral hygiene and limit foods and drinks that can darken your teeth, such as coffee, tea, and berries. Stain-removing toothpaste may help to reduce surface stains on your teeth. Ask your dentist for his or her advice to brighten your smile.
This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Collins.