If you spend any time on Pinterest or Facebook or if yousubscribe to any natural living or do-it-yourself blogs, you have probably seen
a number of recipes for whitening your teeth at home. Often accompanied by
amazing before-and-after pictures, these homemade whitening formulas promise
astounding results using everyday products you might find around the house.
Sounds great, right? Well, before you jump head first (or teeth first) into whitening
at home, take a moment to learn the facts so you enjoy a brighter smile safely.
A Quick Look at DIY Whitening
For thousands of years, people have used an astonishing
array of ingredients – from charcoal and ground up stones to animal urine – to
remove stains from their teeth. In fact, the earliest recorded recipe for teeth
whitening dates back to the Egyptians who mixed vinegar and powdered pumice
stone to achieve a brighter smile. While the specific ingredients have changed,
today’s do-it-yourself teeth whitening formulas generally have two components:
- The bleaching agent. Hydrogen peroxide is one of the most common bleaching
agents in DIY whitening recipes, although some call for acidic compounds like
apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, or mashed strawberries. - The abrasive. Nearly all recipes use baking soda to physically scrub surface
satins, although some recipes call for activated charcoal powder or calcium
carbonate.
Do These Methods Work?
Don’t let the before-and-after pictures fool you. DIY teeth
whiteners will remove some surface
stains but they will not produce the dramatically brighter results you may
expect. Hydrogen peroxide is the active ingredient in most OTC and
dentist-administered teeth whitening systems, but the concentration found in
these commercial products is much higher than what’s in the big brown bottle of
peroxide you have sitting under the bathroom sink.
Are These Methods Safe?
If used sparingly (and if you have no other oral health
issues), it’s safe to use a DIY teeth whitening formula once every six weeks or
so. However, most of the websites promoting these formulas recommend using the
several times a week. Unfortunately, the abrasive action of the baking soda can
wear down tooth enamel, leading to tooth sensitivity.
For Safe, Effective Teeth Whitening, Talk to Your Dentist
If a brighter, more youthful looking smile is important to
you or if you have extensive staining, your best bet is to talk to Dr. Tillman
about teeth whitening. Depending on your goals, in-office power whitening or
custom fitted take-home whitening trays might be right for you. Both of these
methods are safe and will brighten your teeth by up to 9 shades.
About David Tillman, DDS
Drawing from a wealth of continuing education and hands-on
experience, Dr. David Tillman and his staff are committed to providing
individuals and families with exceptional general, restorative, and cosmetic
dental care from our Fort Worth, TX
dentist’s office. To schedule an appointment or complimentary consultation
to discuss teeth whitening, call us today at (817) 870-4746. Located in the
heart of the Downtown Fort Worth medical district, we proudly serve patients
from across the Metroplex.