Many people are looking for a cost-efficient, simple, and natural alternative to whitening their teeth, and there are many options. But not all remedies work the same or are as safe as the other.
Obviously, the best way to get professional results is to have the work done by a cosmetic dentist or hygienist. But this is very costly. At-home teeth whitening kits are a little less expensive, but can be cumbersome and still require use of messy gels and creams and treatments that aren’t always easy to work into a busy lifestyle.
Many people believe that there are more natural solutions to teeth whitening. That teeth whitening is as simple as looking in your cupboard or refrigerator, and that is true for the most part.
But before engaging in any teeth whitening treatment, please keep the next three ideas in mind.
Whitening with Fruit
Beware of using lemon juice and orange peels. The citric acid in lemon juice and orange peels will whiten your teeth, but will also strip calcium from your enamel increasing the chances of tooth decay and temperature sensitivity. These methods should not be used as part of a regular dental cleaning regimen.
Recent media attention has been given to strawberries and baking soda, but there are warnings that brushing too soon after applying the strawberry/baking soda mix will also strip your teeth of enamel.
The bonus with the baking soda is that it does not harm teeth and can actually help reduce the alkalinity levels in your mouth that can lead to development of cavity-causing bacteria. It is the cleaning acid in the fruit that is the culprit for stripping enamel.
Teeth Whitening Takes Time
Be patient!
Your teeth didn’t get stained overnight and no treatment – whether professional or at-home – will get your teeth white immediately. Some treatments work faster than others (eg: laser whitening), but whitening still takes time, particularly if you use an at-home whitening kit or a natural remedy.
Results also depend on the type of stain on your teeth. Staining that is caused by food (extrinsic) is generally treatable and typically responds well to whitening treatments within a couple of weeks. Intrinsic staining, however, which is staining that is caused by underlying medical conditions or medications (usually associated with tetracycline) may not respond to treatments – particularly over-the-counter whitening kits. Your cosmetic dentist is the best one to remove those stains.
Remember, too, that for dental treatments to work optimally – that is provide the results they claim – they need to be administered in a certain way and that means following the instructions carefully. If you’ve been told to leave the whitening agent on for two hours and you only leave it on for one hour you’re not going to see the results the product claims. On the flip side, if you decide to leave the agent on for four hours thinking you’ll get faster results, you may in fact be damaging your enamel. These agents are meant to work in a certain time frame being used a specific way. Following the instructions carefully is the best way to ensure that you get the white teeth you want without potentially damaging your enamel.
Brushing and Flossing are Still Required
No matter which whitening treatment you decide to go with – professional, at-home, natural – you will still need to brush your teeth. Those treatments are only intended to remove stains from your teeth not fight cavities and remove food particles. Even if your whitening treatment includes baking soda, you will still need to brush regularly and floss to make sure you maintain optimal dental health. This important not only for your teeth, but for your gums and tongue as well.
If bacteria are left to grow and fester on your soft tissues, you could be left with gingivitis, periodontal disease, periodontal bone loss (loss of the supporting bone for your teeth) and tooth loss, bad breath and other oral conditions that occur as a result of bacteria build up.
As with everything, be an informed consumer and an informed dental patient. Discuss any concerns or options with your dentist before commencing any treatment. If at any time during your whitening treatment you experience any change in your dental condition, report it to your dentist. Common side effects are temperature sensitivity and irritated gums. If these become severe or don’t seem to lessen in between treatments, you need to follow up with your dentist.
www.healthnews.com