Everyone would love to have whiter teeth. Unfortunately, from drinking coffee every morning to eating certain foods, our teeth can get more yellow or colored over time, making many people self-conscious. DIY teeth whitening can be an option for many people. However, it’s essential to know the facts about the various ways you can whiten your teeth at home.
At Wambaugh Dental, we believe in giving our patients the facts when it comes to at-home teeth whitening, so we’ve compiled this list of 5 facts about the procedure. As always, if you want whiter teeth that will last for an extended period of time, visit Wambaugh Dental for top-of-the-line professional care. If you are looking to get your teeth whitened, call Wambaugh Dental at 281.501.7849.
5 DIY Teeth Whitening Facts
There can be a lot of misinformation and confusion about the best way to whiten your teeth. So here are five facts about easy teeth whitening at home.
1. Baking Soda Can Help For Lighter Stains
Believe it or not, putting a little bit of baking soda on your toothbrush, wetting it, and brushing gently can help remove some lighter or less prominent stains from your teeth. Baking soda has a rating of 7 on the abrasiveness scale dentists use called the Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA), which goes from 0 to 269. Therefore, it’s surprisingly gentle on your teeth. That’s why it can be a good option for lesser stains. Furthermore, it can help freshen your breath.
2. Whitening Toothpaste Can Lighten Up to Two Shades
Some kinds of toothpaste that contain either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide can help whiten teeth at home. However, they only tend to lighten up to two shades, so if you want your teeth lighter than that, you should go to a professional. Also, whitening toothpaste typically does not contain bleach, so it is safe to use in your mouth.
3. Whitening Strips Are Great As Well
This easy DIY teeth whitening method involves strips that mold to the shape of your teeth. You leave them on for a certain amount of time and repeat for a period of several weeks. At-home teeth whitening strips tend to lighten your teeth more than whitening toothpaste or baking soda.
4. Avoid Certain Natural Remedies
You might think it’s safe and healthy to use substances on your teeth for DIY teeth whitening because something is natural. However, that is not always the case. Below are a few examples of what not to use when you do teeth whitening at home:
- Strawberries: Strawberries have ascorbic acid in them, and acid is harmful to your teeth. Avoid brushing your teeth with strawberries or strawberry juice.
- Sea salt and cider vinegar: Like above, this combination contains acid, which will almost certainly weaken your enamel. Besides, sea salt is corrosive and harsh on teeth.
- Activated charcoal: This usually comes up in online searches when people look up how to whiten their teeth at home but avoid using activated charcoal at all costs. It is abrasive enough to damage your enamel and can even cause tooth erosion.
If you have questions about whether a substance is safe to use on your teeth, you’re always welcome to reach out to the experts at Wambaugh Dental.
5. For Best Results, Go To A Professional
While some at-home teeth whitening products are safe, not all of them are. Furthermore, even the ones that are safe aren’t as effective as getting your teeth whitened professionally. When in doubt, go to a dentist who specializes in professional teeth whitening.
For Professional Teeth Whitening, Call Wambaugh Dental Today
If you are looking to have your teeth whitened, it’s probably not enough to do it yourself at home. Wambaugh Dental specializes in several teeth whitening procedures, including Kor Whitening. We offer safe, professional care from ADA-certified dentists that are well-trained in how to take care of your teeth. So if you want whiter teeth and a brighter smile, and your preventative care isn’t cutting it, call Wambaugh Dental today at 281.501.7849, or contact us online.
