Does whitening damage the enamel?
Carried out with suitable products and under a dentist’s supervision, whitening does not wear away the enamel. The risks come mainly from products used incorrectly or from overuse.
Teeth whitening
Whitening does not scrape the surface of the teeth: it works through a chemical reaction that breaks down the pigments responsible for the discoloration. Used within a supervised routine, it does not cause any loss of enamel.
Problems tend to arise with unsuitable products, poorly controlled concentrations or treatments repeated too often. Abrasive powders and pastes that claim to whiten can, on the other hand, wear the enamel with repeated use.
An examination beforehand is important. A cavity, a crack or inflamed gums must be treated first, as the product could irritate the tooth or the gum. The dentist also checks that the cause of the discoloration is one that whitening can address.
Some discolorations, for example those linked to certain medicines taken in childhood, respond less well. In that case, the dentist explains the results you can realistically expect and the other possible solutions.
This is a general answer. Only a consultation at the practice can tell what suits your situation.