The Dangers of DIY Teeth Whitening
A Beautiful Smile with white, even teeth is a major confidence booster and helps to make a good first impression, whether you’re going on a date or sitting down for a job interview.
The widespread desire for whiter teeth in today’s society, combined with internet culture, has given rise to a number of popular do-it-yourself teeth whitening methods. While these might seem like great life-hacks to try, many of them can actually do serious damage to your teeth.
Common DIY Teeth Whitening Trends
Over the last couple of years, you may have heard of some of these trendy teeth whitening approaches like activated charcoal, lemon juice, and oil pulling.
Oil pulling is an ancient folk remedy, that involves swishing oil in your mouth on an empty stomach for around 20 minutes. This action supposedly draws out toxins in your body, but there is no scientific evidence to back up the claims about its health benefits.
Using lemon juice to whiten your teeth is absolutely a bad idea because you’re essentially applying a strong acid directly to your teeth. Tooth enamel is highly vulnerable to acid, and enamel loss is permanent.
While activated charcoal might be able to absorb stains and toxins, those benefits are debatable when it comes to teeth. Because charcoal is also abrasive, so it could be scraping away enamel even as it removes stains.
Hold off on buying charcoal toothpaste until you see the ADA Seal of Acceptance, and definitely don’t mix up your own.
What About Peroxide And Baking Soda?
Another DIY whitening trend is using baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to bleach teeth. The rationale behind this idea is that hydrogen peroxide is used in professional whitening and baking soda is present in many ADA-approved whitening toothpastes. Both are also proven effective at removing stains.
It is true that peroxide and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) are used in professional and approved whitening products. That doesn’t mean, however, that these are safe chemicals to apply directly to your teeth.
There is a delicate balance between using too little, which won’t produce a whitening effect, and using too much, which can damage the enamel and the soft tissues of the mouth. Only dental professionals have the knowledge, training, and materials needed to strike the right balance that provides the desired results.
Visit Smileboston For A Whiter Smile!
While more costly, your oral health will ultimately benefit from putting your trust in dental professionals for your whitening needs. Instead of trying a risky DIY method at home, the professionals at Smileboston encourage you to bring your teeth whitening questions with you to your next dental appointment.
Working together, we can make a plan for how best to whiten your smile. In the meantime, the best things you can do to keep your smile healthy and bright are to keep up with daily brushing and flossing habits, avoid food and drinks that can stain your teeth, and don’t smoke.
Smileboston is here to help you get the smile of your dreams! And now, through the end of November, in-office teeth whitening is just $350 (usually $450) and custom take-home whitening trays are $175 (usually $275). Visit Smileboston online for more information or call 617-277-4100 to schedule your whitening session!
Imagine Smiling Confidently With A Brigter Smile!
Contact us with any questions or to schedule an appointment to reclaim your smile today!