Do you whiten your teeth? Be careful with these methods

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Probably most of us dream about teeth like toothpaste advertisements. Therefore, we decide to whiten them more and more often. However, dentists warn that this is a procedure that can weaken the enamel. What do we need to know about toothpastes that promise a pearly smile and the most popular teeth whitening methods? We ask Monika Stachowicz, dentist from Centrum Periodent in Warsaw.

1. The main problem with popular whitening toothpastes is that they don’t work. This opinion is often shared by users on forums. Anyway, it is enough to carefully trace the composition of these pastes to see that there is no point in dreaming about a miracle, unless it is a marketing miracle
2. As experts admit, all preparations from drugstores or the Internet do not have a sufficient concentration of the active substance to have any real effect on the shade of the teeth. Moreover, they can be dangerous.
3. The main difference between overlays from ready-made sets and overlays from the dentist is that the latter are prepared on the basis of an impression under the patient’s bite, so they fit perfectly, so there is no risk of irritation of the oral cavity and injury to the gums. At the dentist, hydrogen peroxide, most often used to whiten teeth, is also used in a concentration not available in preparations available in pharmacies or drugstores

What’s the truth about whitening toothpastes?

Whitening toothpastes will not whiten the teeth, as they generally do not contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which act on the deep tissues of the tooth and in the right concentration change their shade – says the drug. stom. Monika Stachowicz from Centrum Periodent in Warsaw. Instead, they contain abrasive substances, such as silica, baking soda or white clay, the particles of which polish the teeth by removing external plaques or plant enzymes such as bromelain, which are to gently dissolve the deposits. Therefore, they will work in the case of superficial discoloration, for example in smokers or people with coffee or black tea raids – he adds.

When using them, however, we must stick to one rule – check the abrasion index on the paste packaging, the so-called RDA. The higher the RDA, the better the whitening properties of the toothpaste. Toothpastes with an RDA of 45 can be used daily, with a higher – no more than 2 times a week. Otherwise, we may damage the enamel or develop tooth sensitivity. If you experience any burning or tingling sensation during use, discontinue use and rinse your mouth with water. It is best to consult your dentist before purchasing toothpaste.

Whitening stripes

As experts admit, all preparations from drugstores or the Internet do not have a sufficient concentration of the active substance to have any real effect on the shade of the teeth. Moreover, they can be dangerous.

An example are here whitening stripes. These are silicone strips with a gel containing hydrogen peroxide, which are stuck to the surface of the teeth. They usually have a moderate price and are easy to use, and they can whiten the enamel by a few shades. But if you use them too often, you may experience sensitivity, sore teeth and gums, which some users even have to relieve with painkillers. Therefore, they should not be used more than once a year. In addition, the strips will not get into the gaps between the teeth, so the effect will not be even and may be disappointing. Before using them, it is always worth consulting a dentist.

DIY tooth whitening kits

Ready-made whitening kits over the counter – sound tempting? On the Internet, you can find many such products for home use, such as those that contain tooth pads, a whitening gel or a small device emitting blue LED light, which is to speed up the whitening process. While the leaflets say they are safe, studies have shown that some of them can lead to stomach problems. infections in the mouth, toothache, gum recession and even damage to the dental pulp.

– The main difference between overlays from ready-made sets and overlays from the dentist is that the latter are prepared on the basis of an impression under the patient’s bite, so they fit perfectly. In turn, the aligners in the kit ordered online can irritate the soft tissues of the mouth and injure the gums. The effect of their operation may be inconsistent, e.g. white spots on the teeth or it may not be at all. The effect is weaker because the concentration of the whitening agent is low. At the dentist, hydrogen peroxide, most often used to whiten teeth, is used in a concentration not available in preparations available in a pharmacy or drugstore – says the dentist.

Teeth whitening pens

An even stranger invention that we can find online are the so-called whitening pens, which are used, for example, for single teeth. Some of them even contain information that they can help you get even 4-5 shades of whiter smile. What is the reality like?

According to experts, the effect may appear, but it is minimal, due to insufficient action, e.g. low concentration of hydrogen peroxide in their composition. So if such a preparation promises us a spectacular effect, we are actually buying a pig in a poke. What does it look like from the legal point of view? These types of products that you find outside of your dentist’s office should not contain more than 6% hydrogen peroxide, which is the legal standard adopted in the EU – usually these amounts are much lower, so you won’t notice a difference when using these types of products.

Watch out for DIY methods!

Even if something looks interesting in a picture or online video, it doesn’t mean that it really works or is safe for our teeth. On the web, incl. on YouTube and online blogs, we will find many tutorials and tips on how to make a tooth-whitening toothpaste or liquid yourself.

The most popular DIY methods, i.e. those that can be recreated at home, include: paste with the addition of turmeric, pulp made of strawberries and baking soda, homemade toothpaste with active charcoal, rinses based on apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, and even a banana peel. However, dentists warn that fashionable trends in social media, although they have their supporters, will do more harm than good.

– Yes, after using some of these products we will achieve a lightening effect, but often at the expense of dental health. For example, strawberries and lemons contain fruit acids which can cause the false whitening effect when they etch the outer layer of the enamel, revealing the whiter one beneath it. Vinegar has a low pH and softens the enamel, so a side effect of such a mixture may damage the tissue that protects the teeth from external factors. Also, powdered activated carbon, used too often or carelessly, can harm the enamel, so even organizations such as the American Academy of Dentistry advise against its use – says the expert.

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is another natural way to whiten our teeth. How much truth is there? – The operation of baking soda is similar to that of citric acid or ground charcoal. These products have abrasive properties, i.e. abrasive, and thus remove surface raids and in a short time unify the shade of the teeth, but at the same time they can irreversibly deprive the tooth enamel – warns the dentist.

Why is enamel loss so dangerous? Enamel does not have the ability to regenerate, and its violation means a greater risk of caries, mechanical injuries to the teeth, e.g. chipping, but also the formation of unsightly discoloration. Acid enamel erosion begins when the oral pH drops to 5.5 and below. For example, the pH of lemon juice is 2-3, vinegar is about 2.2, and soda is about 2.5. For comparison – one of the strongest acids – sulfuric acid is pH 1.

What about the inner banana peel, which some bloggers believe has whitening properties? This is another myth that is not confirmed by research. Moreover, fruits have both the acid and the sugar they are bad for the health of the teeth. Turmeric will also not provide us with whiteness, on the contrary – it can not only tint our teeth yellow, but also, for example, braces or white fillings.

Will anything work and not hurt? An example is, for example, coconut oil. Mouthwash with coconut oil is a well-known method of American stars, for example actress Gwyneth Paltrow, for a Hollywood smile. It consists in sucking the oil for 15-20 minutes a day, which is to cleanse the body of toxins, and at the same time whiten the teeth naturally.

– While the oil cannot replace brushing and visits to the dentist, the first scientific studies are available that confirm the beneficial effects of coconut oil on oral health when used regularly. The oil has softening and moisturizing properties, so it reduces dry mouth. We find in it, among others lauric oil, which, thanks to its antibacterial properties, inhibits the growth of bacteria, and thus reduces the risk of caries, bad breath, but also supports the health of the gums and has a positive effect in the case of aphthosis. On the other hand, there is no evidence that the oil can whiten our teeth, but we will not harm ourselves with it – explains the dentist.

So before we test any home whitening method on our own teeth, let’s consult your dentist. Such practices can cost us a lot – irretrievable loss of dental health.

You can try the Vitammy Pearl + sonic toothbrush with whitening function, which you can buy at a promotional price on Medonet Market. After brushing your teeth, apply ApaCare Repair Tooth Remineralization Gel, which whitens and smoothes the enamel.

Whitening? Only at the dentist

Whitening at the beautician? This option is offered by some beauty salons, often based on the ignorance of patients. Patients, in turn, use them, tempted by the lower prices of treatments. However, experts warn against such a shortcut. In such places, hydrogen peroxide in a concentration of up to 16% may be used, and the accepted standard for preparations used outside the dentist’s office is 0,1% to 6%.

– Hydrogen peroxide is the most popular substance used in the whitening treatment, which, when reacted with e.g. lamp light, has oxidizing properties and thus deeply whitens the enamel. In the hands of an experienced dentist it is a safe tool ensuring a visible whitening effect, when used by an unqualified and untrained person it becomes dangerous. May lead to irreversible changes in enamel whether to damage the gums. The risk is not worth it – warns Dr. Stachowicz.

The safest options, thanks to which we will get a whiter smile, are professional methods – whitening at the dentist with a lamp, laser or special overlays for home use, prepared by the dentist. How to choose the right option for you? The first stage should be a visit to the office, diagnosis of the problem and then the choice of a solution.

– The patient wants to whiten his teeth, but the causes of the problem may be many and each may require a different method. Our teeth may turn yellow or gray with the aging of the body, as a result of drugs, e.g. tetracyclines, pulp injuries, amalgam fillings, fluoride overdose or diseases, e.g. genetically determined disorders in the development of tooth enamel, the so-called amelogenesis imperfecta. Not everyone knows that our genetic code also determines the shade of our teeth. Yet another problem is dental discolorationthat cause our habits, e.g. smoking, excess coffee or red wine – explains the expert.

Many patients are concerned whitening side effects at the dentist – wrongly. According to specialists, if the procedure is performed by a dentist, the patient is properly qualified, it is a completely safe procedure. Some patients may report tooth sensitivity after the procedure, but this is temporary. There is also a solution here – the use of special preparations to eliminate hypersensitivity.

Read more about popular teeth whitening treatments:

1. Teeth whitening overlay
2. Laser teeth whitening
3. Regenerative teeth whitening

Not for whom whitening?

Although whitening in the right conditions will be a safe procedure, there are also contraindications to it. Among them are pregnancy and breastfeeding, age under 16, tooth sensitivity, acid enamel erosion, tooth decay, recession or gingivitis, orthodontic appliances.

– We always make the patient aware of the possibilities and limitations. For example, fillings, veneers or crowns will not whiten, so they simply need to be replaced. The so-called dead teeth, filled with a special preparation from the inside. Before the whitening procedure, we should also remove tartar and heal all teeth, whitening teeth with caries may result in pulpitis and root canal treatment – says Dr. Stachowicz.

Bleaching with a lamp, laser or overlays should also not be performed more often than once a year – we can overdo it here as well. – In order to obtain the whitening effect as long as possible, the patient should follow the recommendations, e.g. use the so-called a white diet, avoid highly colored products, e.g. containing tannins or the so-called chromogens, do not smoke. Proper oral hygiene will also help to maintain white teeth, says the expert.

Our non-perfect white teeth complex can be solved by a visit to the dentist who will not only advise you on the best solution to your problem, but also suggest the simplest and least expected for the patient. – Sometimes even simple hygienization, i.e. removal of tartar by scaling and sandblasting, is enough to get rid of unsightly deposits and unify the shade of the teeth – concludes the dentist.

Periodent Treatment and Prevention Center in Warsaw is a clinic specializing in implantology, cosmetic dentistry, and, above all, the treatment of periodontitis and mucosa diseases. At work, he uses lasers, the CEREC system, digital devices for low-dose radiology, performs tests with a digital PA-ON periodontal probe – a unique tool helpful in the prevention, diagnosis and therapy of periodontal diseases. Creator of the information campaign “Stop paradontozy”, under which he organizes free dental consultations and diagnostics for patients at risk of periodontal diseases. More: www.periodent.com.pl, stopparadontozie.pl