At What Age Should Teeth Whitening Begin?

When most people think about teeth whitening they imagine getting the procedure to undo years of stains from coffee, wine, or tobacco use. While teeth whitening can certainly be effective in those cases, they can also be useful for teens looking to whiten their smile. But as a parent, it is important to know exactly when the procedure is safe. So, how young is too young for teeth whitening? Today, the pediatric experts at Dr. Scott’s office will give some insight on the procedure and when it’s safe for your teenager to get it done.

What Age Can My Child Have Their Teeth Whitened?

This question often comes up with parents wondering about the safety of teeth whitening procedures. Oftentimes teenagers will see kiosks at the mall with official-looking personnel in lab coats, offering too-good-to-be-true results.

This trend has many dental experts concerned, as the chemicals used can potentially be caustic, which can result in damage to gum tissue, tooth nerves, and pulp. In addition, when these procedures are done on a patient who is too young, there are particular risks as their teeth may not have fully erupted or their pulp may not be fully formed.

At Parkcrest Dental Group, our team offers GLO (Guided Light Optics) whitening beginning at 16 years old. At this age, the teeth will be fully exposed so you don’t risk having multiple shades on the same tooth.

Alternative Options

Depending on the reason your teenager wants their teeth whitened, there may be other solutions. For instance, if only one or two teeth show signs of discoloration, there are single-tooth treatments available. These options help to minimize the impact on the patients’ gums or surrounding teeth.

There are, of course, over-the-counter teeth whitening products. In most cases, these items are designed specifically for adults. These products can cause serious tooth sensitivity, and often impact teenagers more than adults by a fairly significant margin. Before you attempt an over-the-counter tooth whitening product, make sure you consult with your dentist.

Visit Dr. Scott at Parkcrest Dental Group

If you are interested in learning more about pediatric dentistry procedures, or if you are simply interested in finding a pediatric dentist you can trust, visit Dr. Scott at Parkcrest Dental Group today. You can call our team directly at 1-417-887-1220 to schedule an appointment.