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Emily J asked in HealthDental · 1 decade ago

Stepson wants to get teeth whitened?

He is willing and has (says) saved up enough to pay for half. He is only 16, so his teeth are pretty white to begin with, we think it may be a waste of time and money. Also whitening strips the enamel, this in not good for someone so young. Should we just go along and let him get it done, or delay him till he can really understand the consequences.

3 Answers

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  • Whitening does not strip the enamel! The main ingredient is peroxide with most systems and a few other ingredients. If you can stand the sensitivity that the peroxide will cause temporarily there is no damage to the teeth. Check this website for a detailed explaination of the process: http://health.howstuffworks.com/tooth-whitening.ht...

    If he is only 16 though I would highly recommend that he start with a drug store whitening kit rather than a professional strength system as it is WAY cheaper and since he's only 16 he really shouldn't need a higher concentration of peroxide to bleach out the yellowing he feels his teeth have.

    Source(s): dental assistant/receptionist for years - whiten my teeth once and a while
  • Panda
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    you are the parent. if you are against the idea then tell him no, not right now. Whitening doesn't harm the enamel but it can make teeth very sensitive and the gums can get an intense burning sensation during the procedure.

    Tell him his teeth look great and that its not worth it right now. The only reason I would say yes is if he had seriously discolored teeth(obviously not the case) or if hes pursuing a modeling or acting career as a teen.

  • 1 decade ago

    tell him to wait till he's 18 and by then you will pay the other half

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