Everyone wants a flashy white smile, but teeth whitening treatments are best left to dental professionals. You may go to the store today and find shelves full of at-home teeth whitening products, or you might go on social media and read about all sorts of home remedies that are claimed to remove dental stains and make your teeth whiter. Unfortunately, these methods produce inferior results at best and can lead to injury at worst. Here’s why it’s best to get professional teeth whitening treatments from your dentist.
Call It Quits on the DIY Kits
Numerous companies produce at-home teeth whitening kits, and many of them have paid social media influencers to promote these products. Unfortunately, a DIY kit cannot provide the same safe and effective treatment that you can get at a dentist’s office. The American Dental Association has not approved any over-the-counter whitening kits.
These kits come with whitening gel and supposedly one-size-fits-all dental trays. If the user’s teeth are too small for these trays, their gums may be exposed to and irritated by the whitening agent. If the user’s teeth are too big, the whitening effect may be applied unevenly to the smile. In some cases, poorly formulated whitening gels have led to more serious injuries of the gums.
Give Up on Questionable Chemistry: Skip the Home Remedies
There are a variety of home remedies for teeth whitening. Some of them rely on abrasive substances such as baking soda or activated charcoal, and others rely on acids such as those found in lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. In any of these cases, these remedies work by wearing away part of the enamel. While this will eliminate staining particles and bring fresh white enamel to the surface, it weakens your teeth over time and makes them more sensitive and vulnerable to tooth decay.
After prolonged use, the enamel will start wearing thin, and more and more of the yellowish dentin beneath will show through. At this point, these home remedies will no longer be effective, and the teeth will be severely weakened.
You’ve Got It Made When Your Teeth Whitening Is Professional-Grade
Fortunately, your dentist is prepared to provide you with a professional teeth whitening treatment in the form of an in-office procedure or a take-home kit. The in-office procedure takes about an hour and involves your dentist treating your teeth with a concentrated whitening agent. Take-home kits from your dentist include professional-grade whitening gel and customized dental trays. All you’ll need to do is apply the gel to the trays and wear them for about an hour every day for two weeks. Your teeth will be up to ten shades whiter!
It’s important to make sure your teeth stay healthy when you’re trying to whiten them. By leaving your teeth whitening treatment to the professionals, you stand to achieve the best possible results without the potential injuries.
About the Author
Dr. Moji Chandy earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from New York University in 2006 and stays abreast of the latest trends in dentistry through continuing education classes. She proudly serves as a member of the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the North Texas Dental Society. Her office in Carrollton, TX offers general, restorative, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry such as teeth whitening treatments. For more information about professional teeth whitening procedures, contact the office online or dial (972) 492-6700.