Statistics show that one in three Americans hasn’t seen their dental specialist in more than a year. And while dental issues can be the lead cause for children’s school absence, we’ve got an extraordinary number of lost work hours for adults for the same reason – dental issues, 164 million to be more specific.
As the statistics show increased dental issues, the Google searches for DIY whitening solutions are increasing too. That’s why today, we’re going to thoroughly explore the subject of teeth whitening at home and how safe it is.
DIY Teeth Whitening Recipes
Google says that there are a bunch of home-effective teeth whitening options, so let’s see how effective, inexpensive and good for one’s dental health these options really are.
Baking Soda
One of the most searched home remedies for teeth discoloration is baking soda. The famous receipt goes “baking soda and hydrogen peroxide,” “baking soda and fresh lemon juice,” or “baking soda and water.” Mixing the two ingredients, you’re supposed to make a paste to then apply it to your teeth with a toothbrush.
This is wrong on so many levels, and many chemists will understand what I’m about to say. Firstly, when you mix any two of the above-stated ingredients, you’re going to get an intense chemical reaction, and you’re supposed to put that in your mouth and continue brushing. If one has a bit more sensitive gums, this will be an instant irritant, and your gums hardly recover from this radical pH change.
Fruit Paste as a Teeth Whitener
Another “great” way to destroy your teeth’ enamel is making a home whitener from strawberries, lemons and a bunch of other acidic fruits. Rubbing fruits directly onto the surface of your teeth is not a good idea. The acid that can be found in the fruits will cause more damage to your teeth’ enamel than good.
Once your enamel is damaged, it’ll be by far more susceptible to staining and yellowness. In fact, it’s recommended by dental specialists to wait at least half an hour before brushing your teeth after eating fruits and veggies.
Is Home Teeth Whitening Safe
Whitening one’s teeth at home is not the issue, but how the problem is how it’s done. Yes, it’s commonly known that many of the ingredients that are used in the DIY home whitening receipts are used by many toothpaste brands and even by companies that develop professional treatments for tooth yellowness.
However, the problem is with the concentration of the ingredients and the formula itself. For example, there is sodium bicarbonate present in many kinds of toothpaste, but it’s highly unrecommended by dental specialists to use it at home as a teeth whitening agent.
Using such whitening agents at home and in high concentrations can do you more harm than good. Maybe you’ll not see any evident changes at first, but with time your tooth will become more sensitive, and the gum can get irritated very easily.
Also, even when using proper whitening solutions for your teeth discoloration, you are not suppose to do it too often. No matter how safe the method is, there will always be a risk of side effects. Usually, this risk of side effects is minimal.
However, if you misuse the procedure and do it more often than you’re suppose to, the chances you get tissue irritation, or enamel damage proportionately increases.
Healthy Habits That Will Give You Whiter Teeth in Future
- Do your regular dental checkings.
- Replacing your toothbrush regularly, i.e., every two to three months
- Brushing your teeth twice a day, preferably for two or three minutes
- Flossing daily
- Fluoride toothpaste should become your best friend.
- Have a healthy diet
- Using once a week Poladay teeth whitening gel
- Avoid wine, coffee, tea, and tobacco.
The Bottom Line
Although all the benefits from teeth whitening are esthetic, there’s one even important benefit. The confidence teeth whitening often brings people is an amazing thing to see.
Moreover, a study made by The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry show that more than 90% of all subjects believe the most appealing thing to the opposite sex is an attractive smile. However, an attractive smile doesn’t only mean a white smile but a healthy smile too, so let us remind you not to postpone that pending dentist visit
