In my time practising cosmetic dentistry in Joondalup, I have personally seen a lot more people caring about how white their teeth are. In this day and age, appearance seems to be more important than ever and white teeth are a big part of appearance, especially when you smile.
There are now a plethora of home remedies and teeth whitening products designed for use at home. Some of the home remedies and products are harmful and have side effects. We would like to talk about a few ways people whiten their teeth at home and whether or not they are safe.
Don’t Bother
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a time-honoured “home remedy” for whitening teeth. But does it really work? Some people say it does but dentists say the effects are negligible. And people tend to help it along with substances like lemon juice or other acidic “remedies.” Baking soda isn’t worth your time and lemon juice or other acids can damage the enamel in your teeth.
Activated Charcoal
If you like the novelty of turning your mouth temporarily black with activated charcoal, that’s wonderful. But it won’t actually accomplish anything for your teeth. Not only does it not work, it can be too abrasive and damage your tooth enamel. If you sense a pattern here, congratulations.
Supermarket Whiteners
These garner mixed reviews. White Glo is inexpensive and provides a small extent of whitening with minimal side effects if used as directed. Crest whitening strips are great for some people. Others end up with heightened tooth sensitivity. We see this as too risky.
Your Best Choice
Go to the dentist and have it professionally done. You can buy a take-home kit from your dentist but it is more effective to let a professional use a professional product on your teeth. First, we clean your teeth. Then, we apply the whitener. Easy-peasy. White teeth, no side effects. What could be better than that?
Please call us on (08) 9404 9500 or click here to book an appointment.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, we encourage you to discuss these matters with an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
