Three Mistakes People Make When Trying To Whiten Their Teeth

1 December 2017
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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There are so many myths that circulate around teeth whitening. While some of these myths may actually be truths, most of them do more damage than good for your teeth. This leads to people making many mistakes when they attempt to whiten their teeth. Here are three of the most common mistakes that are generally made:

  1. Using Whitening Toothpaste: Many people think the simplest solution would be to use a whitening toothpaste. The reason being that you brush your teeth every morning and night anyway, so eventually, the toothpaste is going to work to whiten your teeth. However, what actually happens is more damage than good. This is because most teeth whitening toothpastes are abrasive, which causes damage to the enamel of your teeth. This leads to teeth sensitivity and teeth that are more likely to become damaged and stained. If you are wanting to use a toothpaste that has some whitening properties without any abrasive side effects, talk with your dentist. 
  2. Using Over the Counter Teeth Whitening: Many people want a quick solution and believe over the counter teeth whitening strips will provide that. However, many of these contain strong abrasives, as well which can lead to tooth sensitivity and other damages. This is especially true if you aren't using the strips as instructed. Instead, it's better to visit your dentist for a custom made teeth whitening tray. The benefit of this is that it's gentler for teeth and you get instructions directly from your dentist on how to use it, which means your more likely to use it effectively. 
  3. Using Natural Remedies: The biggest myths that surround teeth whitening revolve around natural remedies for teeth whitening that circulate around the Internet. The problem with these natural remedies is that they generally recommend using hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice. The problem with this is that hydrogen peroxide affects the amount of good and bad bacteria in your mouth, which can affect your oral health while lemon juice has a ton of acid in it that will deteriorate your enamel. 

The best method for whitening your teeth is to always first talk to your dentist. From there, you want to decide which method is best. Your dentist will probably recommend a gel or whitening strips that are custom made for you. While these can be a bit pricey, they are the most effective and are highly unlikely to cause damage that could lead to more oral health problems. For more information, contact companies like Pike Dentistry.