Teeth whitening removes discolouration and stain from the teeth, which result from coffee and tea, the natural ageing process, and smoking and eating certain foods. Teeth whitening is one of the popular dental procedures because it removes stains, enhances the smile aesthetics and improves self-esteem.
Different teeth whitening options are available. With the right teeth whitening treatment, you would have whiter teeth and a brighter smile without damaging your teeth, but the wrong teeth whitening treatment can permanently damage your teeth.
Some teeth whitening products and methods can cause the following damage.
- Gum irritation
- Loss of your enamel
- Increased risk of teeth staining
- Tooth sensitivity
- More discoloured teeth than before the whitening procedure
- Increased risk of fracturing the teeth
- Etching of the teeth
If you lose your enamel from a tooth whitening treatment, your teeth would be darker and more sensitive. To prevent damage to your teeth, you need to use safe home teeth whitening treatment or visit a dentist w1 for professional teeth whitening to enhance your tooth shade.
Professional teeth whitening from your dental professional and some at-home tooth whitening options can safely brighten your teeth. The following are safe teeth whitening options and those you should avoid.
DIY and at-home teeth whitening solutions | Whiten Teeth at home
Although most people do not have naturally white teeth, they desire a brighter smile, so opt for ways to whiten their teeth are home. Several at-home and DIY teeth whitening methods are available, but some are more effective and safer than others.
If you want to whiten your teeth using at-home whitening solutions without damaging them, consider the following teeth whitening options.
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Baking soda
Some people believe that baking soda is too abrasive for the teeth, but dental research shows that the rating of baking soda on the Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) scale of 0 – 269. The RDA level shows the level of abrasivity of substances on the teeth.
You can use baking soda but brush gently to remove stains on your teeth without damaging them.
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Teeth whitening strips
Whitening strips can take the form of the teeth when you apply them to whiten the teeth. Different brands of teeth whitening strips are available, but ensure you get one with a seal of approval. The seal of approval shows that the whitening strip is effective and safe for whitening the teeth.
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Whitening toothpaste
Tooth whitening toothpaste contains low concentrations of hydrogen or carbamide peroxide, and they can whiten your teeth by a shade or two. Some whitening toothpaste brands are abrasive on the teeth, resulting in dentin exposure and enamel erosion from prolonged use. However, safe whitening toothpaste does not contain bleaching agents.
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Whitening rinses
The Whitening mouth rinses can improve the teeth colour by a shade or two, just like whitening toothpaste. Whitening rinses contain hydrogen peroxide or other oxygen sources but in a small quantity. You may need to use a whitening rinse for up to three months before seeing an improvement in your teeth shade. Using a mouth rinse to whiten your teeth involves rinsing your mouth with it for at least 60 seconds twice every day.
Natural teeth whitening solutions you should avoid
Some natural products are harmful to the teeth and can cause permanent damage to the enamel. Ensure you avoid the following DIY home teeth whitening solutions.
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Lemon and baking soda
Some home cleaning agents contain baking soda and lemon, but this combination can damage your teeth. A recent study showed that lemon juice erodes the enamel more than orange and grapefruit juice.
The pH of lemon juice is 2.2, making it highly acidic. Although lemon juice can whiten the teeth, it would cause considerable damage.
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Strawberries
Some people recommend fresh strawberries for brushing the teeth, but ascorbic acid can damage the teeth. Strawberries are a vital part of a balanced diet, but you have to brush your teeth using a toothpaste containing fluoride after eating them.
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Activated charcoal
Different sites online recommend activated charcoal as a natural product that quickly whitens the teeth. Using activated charcoal to whitening your teeth requires you to smear the black mixture on your teeth. The carbon in activated charcoal will bind to the stains on your teeth and remove them when you wash the charcoal out.
However, dental professionals have some concerns about the abrasivity of activated charcoal and believe it is unsafe for teeth whitening because it can wear off the enamel to expose the yellow and softer layers of your teeth.
If you want to use activated charcoal, ensure you only apply it to your teeth and do not scrub. Try not to use activated daily and stop its use when you notice your desired result.
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Cider vinegar and sea salt
Cider vinegar mixed with sea salt is not safe for whitening teeth. Like strawberries and lemon juice, vinegar is highly acidic and can damage the teeth, increasing the risk of tooth sensitivity and decay.
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Wood ash
Wood ash from a fireplace is a common but unsafe natural teeth whitening solution. It contains potassium hydroxide, also called lye which is unpleasant to use and damages the teeth.
Foods that keep the teeth white | Whiten Teeth at home
Although you cannot prevent tooth discolouration completely, including certain foods in your diet can help keep your teeth white. The foods prevent teeth stains and help keep your teeth bright.
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Cauliflower, Broccoli, and coarse vegetables
These vegetables are rich in fibre and require you to chew for a while. Chewing food for a long time enables more saliva production, breaking down stains on the teeth and removing surface stains.
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Pineapple
Pineapple is the only food containing bromelain, a cleaning and anti-inflammatory compound that removes surface stains on the teeth.
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Dairy products
Dairy products increase the production of saliva, which helps to break down stains on the teeth. Products like cheese that contain lactic acid also remove surface stains.
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Seeds and nuts
Nuts and seeds are a healthy snack that has a natural exfoliating effect. They have an abrasive texture that removes teeth discolouration and stains.
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Onions
Onions contain sulphur which prevents plaque accumulation on the teeth. Plaques absorb stains, which makes them more noticeable.
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Carrots and celery
They contain plenty of water, and chewing them helps remove food debris stuck between the teeth and surface stains.
Tips to keep your teeth white | Whiten Teeth at home
Eating the right food is not the only thing that matters in keeping your teeth clean, but you have to eat them at the right time. For example, eating a salad before pasta sauce helps prevents staining from the sauce. Lettuce and spinach form a temporary protective layer on the teeth, which prevents staining.
Another example is taking dairy products or snacking on nuts and celery after drinking tea or coffee can help combat staining and keep your teeth clean.
Your oral hygiene is an important factor that contributes to the brightness of your teeth. Brushing and flossing regularly helps you prevent bacteria that cause cavity and plaque on the teeth. Rinsing your mouth with a mouthwash or brushing after eating can also remove stains on the teeth. Using whitening toothpaste to brush your teeth 1 – 2 times every week can also help remove surface stains on your teeth.
Stain-causing food and drinks
Some drinks and food can stain your teeth, leaving them with unpleasant discolouration. It is important to know things that can discolour your teeth if you want to keep your teeth white. The following drinks and food cause significant teeth staining.
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Acidic and citric foods
Citrus fruits and those containing acids such as tomatoes and oranges can erode the dentin, although they are healthy.
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Pasta sauce
Pasta sauce tends to stick to the teeth, increasing the risk of staining.
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Berries
Raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries contain antioxidants but can cause stains. You can eat cheese or take dairy products to neutralise the acid’s effect in any berry you eat.
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Coffee
Coffee contains high levels of acidic polyphenols that cause teeth discolouration. The high acidity of coffee can also alter the pH balance in the mouth, causing a lot of damage, especially when you eat acidic foods.
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Tea
Tea also contains tannins like coffee which damage the teeth. Taking black tea over time will make your teeth turn yellow, while green tea changes the teeth colour to grey. Adding milk to tea can reduce its staining effect.
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Red wine
Red wine such as pinot noir can change the colour of your teeth to grey because it contains a high level of tannins.
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White wine
Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and other types of white wine make existing teeth stain appear darker because they create small holes on the teeth for stains to penetrate.
Professional teeth whitening options
Professional teeth whitening options are safe and faster than home whitening solutions. The following are common professional teeth whitening methods.
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Chairside bleaching
Chairside teeth bleaching is safe and gives a fast result, but it may lead to temporary tooth sensitivity, and you need periodic top-ups. The procedure lasts for about 30 minutes to one hour and can improve the shade of your teeth by several shades.
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At-home custom tray whitening
Your dentist can give you custom-fitted whitening trays and bleaching solution to whiten your teeth. Using an at-home custom tray to whiten your teeth is more affordable than the chairside whitening procedure but takes a longer time to get your desired result.
You may need to wear the whitening trays overnight or for 2 – 3 hours daily over some weeks to get your desired result. Some treatments may require up to 6 weeks.
The whitening trays contain carbamide peroxide, which breaks down to form hydrogen peroxide, a tooth bleaching agent. At-home teeth whitening treatments are as effective as in-chair teeth whitening treatments but require a few weeks instead of one hour. It can last for about five years.
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At-home and in-office (KöK) teeth whitening
KöK teeth whitening system involves both in-office and at-home teeth whitening options to lighten the teeth by about 16 shades. This system whitens the teeth to a natural lighter shade.
During a KöK teeth whitening, you will wear custom-made trays with a whitening gel daily for about two weeks, depending on the product recommended by your dentist, then have an in-chair whitening session.
The in-chair procedure requires hydramide and carbamide peroxide solutions and does the following.
- Ensure your teeth remains white for a long time
- Reduces deep-seated stains from antibiotics
The ingredients used for KöK increases the ability of the teeth to absorb oxygen from the bleaching gel. Oxygen molecules have stain-removing properties dissolve stains and discolouration on the teeth.
What are the risks and side effect of professional teeth?
Although professional teeth whitening is safe and removes deep-seated teeth stains, some people experience side effect such as temporary tooth sensitivity and gum inflammation a professional teeth whitening treatment. Professional and at-home teeth whitening treatment cause temporary sensitivity, but the sensitivity would subside after a few days or weeks.
Professional teeth whitening may not be a good option for the following persons
- Pregnant or nursing mothers
- Sensitive teeth and gums
- Allergic to peroxide
- Dental restorations, such as filling and crowns
- Worn down enamel, gum disease, cavities, or exposed tooth roots
- Greyish stains
If you need to undergo a professional teeth whitening treatment, visit Wimpole Dental Office today or call us on 020 7183 1906 to schedule an appointment. Our different teeth whitening offers London are suitable for anyone that wants whiter teeth and a brighter smile.
