Teens and teeth whitening - Beauty Within Teen Esteem wants to know.


Is it OK for tweens and teens to reach for the bleach in their quest for a 'pretty' pearly white smile? What parents need to know, first.

 

Your child's dentist can tell you whether he or she is a good candidate for teeth whitening. According to the American Dental Association's Mouth Healthy web site, whitening products are meant for natural tooth enamel – and won't work on fillings, crowns or veneers. And sensitive teeth, cavities, cracked teeth and gum disease should be addressed before bleaching, because whitening treatments can exacerbate these problems, leading to unneeded pain.