When you are considering bleaching your teeth, it means you seek to whiten them. There are several professional dental whitening treatments available, but some home remedies work too. You can get whiter teeth at home; however, it will take more time than a professional treatment to see results.
In this article, we discuss a few methods of how to whiten teeth at home:
Baking Soda
Brushing with baking soda is one of the most popular dental tips. It can be used to polish away spots on the teeth’s surface. Some people worry that baking soda is too harsh and may wear down the enamel, but a 2017 study concluded that it is a safe approach to remove stains.
However, it is still better to avoid excessive use of baking soda due to its abrasive nature. Baking soda may also aid in the fight against germs, suggesting that it could assist to reduce plaque and prevent tooth decay.
Oil Pulling
Washing the mouth with oil to remove dirt, bacteria, and debris is known as oil pulling. Although it is not a replacement for proper brushing and flossing, some research suggests that gargling with specific oils can help whiten teeth.
Oil pulling is considered non-traditional dentistry by the American Dental Association (ADA), which states that there are no reputable scientific studies to suggest that oil pulling lowers cavities, whitens teeth, or improves oral health and well-being.
After brushing your teeth, rinse your mouth with oil for a minute and then spit it out. The following oils are appropriate for oil pulling:
- Coconut oil
- Sunflower oil
- Sesame oil
Whitening Toothpaste & Rinses
These types of toothpaste and mouthwashes target surface stains on your teeth. They are considered safe and reasonably effective if you want to get whiter teeth at home. However, these are not going to give you the whitening effects usually people want. You can get recommendations from your dentist on what products to use. After your teeth have been bleached, toothpaste and rinses can also help in keeping them white.
At-home Whitening Trays
If you receive them from your dentist, they will make a mould of your teeth and construct custom trays for teeth whitening at home. You will be provided with a powerful bleaching gel to use with the trays. The same principle applies to over-the-counter (OTC) systems. However, these may irritate you and may not function as well. A bendable mouthpiece is included in certain OTC kits.
These trays are more effective than one-size-fits-all trays. However, the bleaching gels provided with such kits are not as strong as those obtained from a professional.
Whitening Strips
These are placed on the surface of your teeth for a set time. The stains are removed using hydrogen peroxide. Experts believe that the strips will brighten by five shades (estimate).
While DIY teeth whitening methods seem convenient, the results are not as effective as those from professional treatments. If you have tried teeth whitening at home but want better results, then book an appointment with Fine Dentistry in San Diego.