How safe and effective is at-home teeth whitening?

Gone are the days when people felt insecure because they had stained or discoloured teeth. These days, teeth whitening has made it easy for people to smile comfortably in public. Teeth whitening has been a great help that anyone can get their teeth whitened without going to the dentist. There are various at-home teeth whitening methods, and they include charcoal toothpaste, oil pulling and even baking soda. The question on several people's lips is not just how effective these methods are, but how safe they are. Here are some advice and tips on home teeth whitening below.

Charcoal teeth whitening

This teeth whitening method is one of the most recent trends in at-home teeth whitening. For this method, the individual will have to apply the charcoal paste on their toothbrush and scrub the teeth to remove the surface stains and make the teeth whiter.

Note that the appropriate authorities do not approve this method, and frequent use is not advised until further studies have been completed. In fact, studies have shown that it can cause damage to the teeth and gums if used religiously. For example, charcoal is abrasive, and continuous use can wear away the protective covering of the teeth known as the enamel. Once this happens, there is no going back, and you will become susceptible to cavities and other dental issues.

To be on the safe side, make sure the charcoal you are using is a fine powder, and you must limit usage to once a month and not daily.

Oil pulling

This is a new method of at-home teeth whitening, whereby the individual swirls a tablespoon of cooking oil around in their mouth for about 15 -20 minutes. This is an effort to detoxify the mouth, and the oil used can either be sesame oil or coconut oil. Some studies have shown that this activity helps prevent bad breath and gingivitis and remove plaque and bacteria; however, the FDA has no actual research to back these claims.

Oil pulling may not be as harmful as using charcoal on the teeth; however, it has not been proven to be an effective teeth whitener. Neither has it been proven to provide other dental benefits.

Baking soda for teeth whitening

Baking soda is another at-home teeth whitening method that is quite common. Baking soda is also known as sodium bicarbonate, and it acts as an abrasive on the teeth to remove plaque and surface stains. The only bad side to baking soda is that it does not contain fluoride, so the user does not receive that benefit against cavity. When used for a long time, baking soda can be rough on the teeth' enamel and erode the enamel. Additionally, frequent usage over a long time can cause the teeth to have a transparent appearance and cause tooth sensitivity.

How to whiten the teeth

• If you do not want to get a professional teeth whitening, below are a few things you can do to whiten your teeth safely;
• Brush twice daily for 2 minutes each. This removes not only surface stains but also prevents cavities and tooth decay
• Floss once daily to remove stains from in between the teeth
• Stop smoking or chewing tobacco, as they contain harmful chemicals that stain the teeth as well as cause other health issues over time
• Reduce your intake of stain-heavy food and beverages like coffee, tea and red wine
• Use dental products that have been approved by FDA and ones that aid in whitening

Safe teeth whitening methods

When whitening your teeth, you should take extra precautions not to do things that can damage your enamel. This is because your enamel helps to protect you against cavities and decay, and it cannot be regenerated when it is gone. Speak to your dentist to help you choose the best products that are not harmful to the teeth. No matter how tempted you are, stay away from methods that have not been proven to be effective and safe.

At-home whitening methods are not harmful; the bad side is that fluoride is not always received in the end. Without fluoride, your teeth can be weakened, and you will not be protected against cavities. Always seek the opinion of your dentist before you choose a teeth whitening option, be it at the practice or home. It is always best and safe to choose dental products that FDA has approved.

At Teeth Whitening Clinic in London, you can be rest assured that you will get quality dental treatment and advice. Get in touch with us for more tips on home teeth whitening. Give us a call or send us an email.