Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
We're talking about new medical technology this week on Healthwatch. Some advances may seem minor, but they can affect our day-to-day lives. You may have noticed a whole new category of products popping up in the last few years: products that allow you to get whiter teeth at home without going through expensive dental procedures.
As easy as these gels and strips are,
Dr. Kathia Steel, a dentist and oral surgeon at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says you should talk to your dentist to make sure these products are appropriate for you. If you have a lot of fillings and crowns, for example, you might want to avoid tooth-whitening products because the fillings and crowns won't get whiter, which will only make them contrast even more with whiter teeth. The most common side effects of tooth-whitening products are tooth sensitivity and tissue irritation, but these are usually temporary and go away after the treatment stops.
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July 2005
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