Bleaching and other whitening methods have been proven to be safe and effective through over a decade of research. There are several products on the market today that have been tested in extensive clinical and laboratory trials and shown not to cause harmful side effects to teeth or gums. Always choose a product that has been clinically proven, follow the instructions for use and consult a dental professional.

In the past, the high concentrations of bleaching agents used during dental office treatments led to more severe hypersensitivity. However, today's teeth whitening gels are so well buffered that allergies are no longer a serious problem. Allergies may occur after the whitening procedure, especially when the person who has had their teeth whitened eats hot or cold foods, but usually, disappear after forty-eight hours and will stop altogether at the end of the treatment process.

If you do have allergy symptoms, here are a few ways to help you get rid of them:

1. If you use whitening trays, reduce the time you wear them each time.

2. Brush your teeth with anti-allergy toothpaste, which contains potassium nitrate to help calm the nerve endings in your teeth.

3. Consult your dentist or pharmacist for a fluoride product to help replenish the mineral content of your teeth. Brush or apply the oxide product to the braces for up to four minutes before or after the teeth whitening procedure.

4. Pause the tooth whitening procedure for a few days to allow your teeth to adjust to the whitening process. The allergy symptoms will disappear within twenty-four hours. The longer you undergo the teeth whitening procedure, the less likely you will have allergy symptoms.

In a few cases, your dentist may advise you to stop tooth bleaching:

1. if you have gum disease, damaged enamel on your teeth, cavities or especially if you have dental allergies

2. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding;

3. If your incisors have artificial crowns, braces or other artificial dental products that are the same color as your teeth, these artificial products cannot be breached.