Dentists Say Teens Should Wait Before Whitening Teeth
Teeth whitening is big business. There are all sorts of products from trays and toothpastes to strips and lasers to give you a gorgeous grin.
But when it comes to teeth whitening, young teenagers may want to wait, or they could end up with discolored teeth.
Almost everyone wants a nice white smile, and now with products sold over the counter and at your dentist's office, a pearly white smile is easy to achieve.
Dr. Mary DeMello of the Massachusetts Dental Society says, "People basically want to have their teeth bleached because they find that, over time as they age, their teeth get a little bit darker. Some of their older fillings might become discolored."
Even younger people like 15-year-old Ryan Mee, are getting their teeth whitened.
Ryan says, "I think people my age should get their teeth whitened after they get their braces off because they get yellow when you have your braces on."
But teeth whitening isn't for everyone. Dr. Mary DeMello say kids should wait until they're at least 14-years-old before getting their teeth bleached.
Dr. Mary DeMello says, "Teeth have to be fully erupted in someone's mouth before they could be properly bleached, because if they are still growing in, there's a portion of the tooth that will be whitened and the other portion wouldn't be."
The bottom line: wait until you're old enough to whiten your teeth so you'll have plenty to smile about.
By the way, over the counter whitening products aren't as strong as those used by a dentist.
But no matter how you decide to whiten your teeth, you should always talk to your dentist first.