What are the Best Teeth Whitening Remedies?
The quest for bright white teeth continues. Today, people use almost any means to get them. Use an at-home, all-natural recipe to a whiter smile? Sure. Activated charcoal? Why not? Over-the-counter options? Perfect. Unfortunately, following a recipe you found online or buying another kit from the grocery store won’t produce the results you seek. In fact, many do-it-yourself teeth whitening remedies could end up damaging your smile.
Helping our patients wade through the countless teeth whitening options is tricky, especially when they don’t seek a consultation where we could answer all their questions. Our No. 1 concern at Mint Dental is keeping our patients and their smiles safe. When it comes to teeth whitening, you should proceed with caution. Verify with one of our dentists if the method you’re considering or using is safe to use in your unique situation.
To help you make better teeth whitening decisions, here is our list of the worst and the best teeth whitening remedies.
The Three Worst Whitening Remedies
1. Lemon Juice
People use lemons to make lemonade, clean their showers, keep insects from their kitchen and whiten their teeth. This naturally acidic citrus fruit is a great source of vitamin C and has antibacterial properties. However, when used to whiten teeth, the acid that lightens stains also robs calcium from the enamel. This at-home remedy for whiter teeth could damage your smile beyond repair.
2. Baking Soda and Water
Many patients brush their teeth with baking soda and water in hopes of whitening their smile. This method scrapes off the yellow and brown stains while the free radicals in the water penetrate the enamel and lighten stains. However, if used too often it could actually strip the enamel and expose the yellow tinted dentin beneath.
3. Whitening Toothpaste or Mouthwash
This is another way people think they can whiten their teeth on the cheap. At only a few bucks a tube, it seems like a bargain. The ingredients contain a small amount of peroxide to help lighten the extrinsic staining on your teeth. These are not bad or harmful products, but only marginally whiten teeth and take a long time to actually see results, particularly if you’re still drinking coffee, tea, red wine and other stain-causing habits.
The Three Best Whitening Remedies
1. At-Home Teeth Whitening Kits
These are one of the best whitening options we provide at Mint Dental. These products allow the flexibility of at-home whitening kits along with the power and expertise of professional teeth whitening. We customize your whitening kits to produce the exact results you want.
2. Laser Teeth Whitening
If you are looking for fast results, then this is the option for you. Our dentist applies a concentrated peroxide solution to the surface of your teeth. Then, the dentist activates the solution with a laser. Most patients can come in on their lunch hour and leave with a smile eight to 10 shades lighter.
3. Veneers
In some cases dental staining is so severe no amount of peroxide or laser treatment can reverse it. In these cases, we often recommend porcelain veneers. They are wafer-thin shells bonded directly to your teeth. The results are long lasting and we can customize the color to enhance your smile.
Cost should not be the biggest factor in making teeth whitening decisions. The first concern should always be, “Is it safe?” The second should be, “Does it work and how well?”
If you have any further questions about any teeth whitening methods, call our office at (907) 646-8670 and talk to one of our experienced dentists. Then we can work together and find the best solutions for you.
