If you spend any time on Pinterest or Facebook or if you subscribe 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.