5 Facts You Need to Know About DIY Teeth whitening

5 Facts You Need to Know About DIY Teeth whitening

Feb 13, 2023

Who wouldn’t love healthy and bright dazzling pearly whites? Unfortunately, our teeth can look dull, yellowed, or stained from many years of consuming highly pigmented items like coffee, tomato sauces, dark candy, and soda. Teeth can also get stained due to habits like smoking, taking certain medications, and dental trauma.

If you feel self-conscious or unhappy about the appearance of your teeth, DIY teeth whitening can be an option for you to transform your smile and self-confidence. However, given the numerous myths and misinformation on whitening teeth at home, you might need clarification about what to believe.

The top 5 DIY teeth whitening facts you should know

  • Baking soda can remove light stains

Baking soda is one of the most popular home-based teeth whitening treatments. Surprisingly, gently brushing your teeth with a bit of baking soda can help remove lighter or less prominent stains from your teeth.

Most people are often worried about the nature of abrasiveness in baking soda. Surprisingly, it only has a rating of 7/269 on the Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) – the abrasiveness scale that dentists use. Occasional baking soda is an excellent option to lighten softer stains and freshen your breath.

  • Whitening toothpaste can effectively lighten up to two shades

Most professional whitening toothpaste consists of low hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide concentrations. Brushing your teeth twice daily with toothpaste can help lighten up to two shades. That’s fair enough to give you a brighter smile, especially if you only have lighter external stains.

When using an over-the-counter whitening toothpaste, ensure it doesn’t have abrasive chemicals that can erode your tooth enamel. Ask your dentist near you for recommendations about quality and non-abrasive toothpaste.

  • Whitening strips are also effective

Whitening strips can also help brighten your teeth. The strips are directly applied to the teeth and take the shape of the teeth. You should leave the strips for a certain amount of time daily for several weeks.

Whitening strips can help lighten your teeth up to two shades within a few days. They are more effective than whitening toothpaste and baking soda.

  • Avoid certain natural remedies

How to whiten teeth naturally sounds safe for your teeth and gums. Unfortunately, that’s only sometimes the case. Below are common whitening remedies that are abrasive and harmful to your tooth:

  • Strawberries: Strawberry juice has ascorbic acid that can help brighten your teeth. However, regular exposure to this acid can erode the enamel and damage your teeth.
  • Apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar is highly acidic. While it can lighten teeth stains, regular use can erode the enamel and weaken your teeth.
  • Sea salt: Sea salt is abrasive and can weaken your teeth over time.
  • Lemon juice: Brushing with lemon juice can help lighten teeth stains. Unfortunately, lemon juice is highly acidic and can weaken your teeth over time.
  • Activated charcoal: Activated charcoal is another common home remedy for teeth whitening. While it can lighten teeth stains, it’s abrasive and can erode and weaken your teeth over time.

Always make sure you consult with your dentist before using natural remedies to whiten your teeth. While you may have heard success stories about specific ingredients, they can whiten your smile at the expense of your dental health.

  • For best results, get professional treatment

While some teeth whitening at home might be safe and effective, you can’t compare them with professional teeth whitening. Professional teeth whitening treatments contain higher hydrogen or carbamide peroxide concentrations than DIY treatments.

The dentist can customize your treatment based on how many shades of color you want to lighten. Professional whitening is considered the fastest and most effective form of whitening that can lighten your teeth up to eight shades.

Are you interested in teeth whitening in Plymouth, NH?

For more information about teeth whitening near you, visit us at Dental Arts of Plymouth.

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