Teeth Whiten­ing Myths Bust­ed: What Real­ly Works?

When it comes to teeth whitening, there are a limited number of solutions that actually deliver results. To avoid spending money on products that won’t deliver what they promise, it’s essential to be able to see through the myths and focus on the solutions that will actually deliver results.

The risks for patients are often minimal, and the worst case is that you will have wasted your money on something that doesn’t work. But some of these teeth whitening lists can actually cause damage to your teeth, so they need to be avoided at all costs.

By the end of this guide, you should have a better idea about how teeth staining works, what is required to shift these stains, and which treatments you need to avoid.

What causes dental stains?

Your teeth might look and feel solid, but they are actually porous, like a sponge. This means that they can absorb particles from food and drink, and these particles can leave stains behind. Anything that could stain your clothing is a prime candidate for staining your teeth.

Another type of dental discolouration happens on the surface. Plaque is a sticky substance that forms on the teeth throughout the day. If this is not brushed away, it builds up and then hardens, forming something called calculus. This deposit can become discoloured, leading to further discolouration, usually between the teeth and on the gum line.

What removes dental stains?

There are two approaches to dental staining that are effective. First, you can brush your teeth daily to help prevent calculus build up and discolouration on the surface of the teeth. You can also use chemicals to break down the bonds between staining particles that are inside your teeth, and then flush these away.

Professional teeth whitening is the only way to really whiten your teeth through a process of bleaching. Hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide are often used to lift the shade of the teeth. These treatments can be accelerated with the use of UV light.

Myths about teeth whitening to avoid

As mentioned above, only professional teeth whitening will deliver a true transformation in your tooth colour. Brushing daily can help to prevent surface staining, but it won’t help to shift deposits that have already hardened. For this type of discolouration, you’ll need to visit a dental hygienist.

Despite this being universal knowledge in the dental sector, there are still myths circulating about how you can achieve whiter and brighter teeth using everyday items. These are some of the most damaging myths you should avoid:

Oil pulling will whiten your teeth

Oil pulling is a popular technique in the holistic health community, but the practice has roots in Ayurvedic medicine. Not only will this technique not whiten your teeth, but it could be dangerous for those unfamiliar with the method.

Oil pulling can lead to you inhaling the oil, which could lead to a condition called lipoid pneumonia. This is also not an alternative to brushing your teeth.

Charcoal, baking soda or strawberry paste

Other popular alternatives for teeth whitening include ingredients like charcoal, baking soda and ground up strawberries. These methods are ineffective at best, and potentially damaging at worst.

Any time you apply an abrasive substance to your teeth, you are risking damaging the enamel. Professional teeth whitening has been carefully developed to ensure minimum risk of damage to the enamel.

Beauty salons can do it cheaper

The industry has become much tougher in terms of regulations and who can carry out teeth whitening. Only dental professionals can carry out teeth whitening, so a beauty salon offering to whiten your teeth for a fraction of the cost should be avoided.

If they use chemicals that are strong enough to actually have an impact, then they are breaking the law. And anything that they can legally access won’t be as effective as professional whitening products. There is also the risk of chemical burns to the gums if products are used incorrectly.

Whitening toothpaste, strips and LED lights

The majority of products available over the counter do not contain high enough levels of whitening products to have an impact. Whitening toothpaste can help to remove surface stains and teeth whitening strips might be effective for maintaining results after professional whitening. But products like gel activated by LED lights will not deliver noticeable results.

The only effective method for teeth whitening

Only dentists are allowed to provide teeth whitening treatments that will actually deliver results. Professional teeth whitening can be done at home, or in the dentist’s office. You’ll have custom trays designed for your teeth and then apply the whitening gel either for a few hours during the day, or overnight. You might then visit the dentist for an intensive treatment to complete the process. If you’re ready to explore professional teeth whitening, get in touch today.