At its most basic, teeth whitening is the process of lightening the natural colour of your teeth. This can be done by removing external stains (i.e., from smoking, tea, coffee, etc.) or bleaching pearly whites to make them a few shades brighter. And while there are professional ways of achieving this, some common DIY methods have popped up in recent years—toothpaste, activated charcoal—and other concerns that need to be addressed.
Let’s answer a few tough questions about this dental procedure today.
Do DIY Home Remedies Work?
Baking soda, activated charcoal, lemon water, and fruit peels show some results in combating stains. However, these only provide external results, with the consequence of more sensitive pearly whites.
Plus, using acidic products on your teeth for a long time can damage the tooth enamel. This will make your teeth more likely to get cavities and sensitive. If you lose the white outer layer of your teeth, it can also turn them yellow.
And no, don’t even try oil pulling; it’s not an effective way to whiten your teeth. The practice of oil pulling has been said to aid in removing toxins from the body, improve oral health, and provide numerous other benefits. So while many different types of oils can be used for oil pulling, some of the most popular choices include coconut oil, sunflower oil, and sesame oil; there is currently no evidence that oil pulling can improve the whiteness of teeth. In our experiment, we did not notice any difference in the color or shade of teeth.
Can You Swallow Saliva during the Procedure?
Absolutely! The teeth whitening gel is safe because the by-products of the peroxide breaking down are mostly oxygen and water. The peroxide in teeth whitening gel is unlikely to harm your body if swallowed in small quantities.
Additionally, the dentist’s suction device will help to keep your mouth comfortable and free of saliva during the in-clinic teeth whitening procedure.
What’s the Safest Way to Do Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening products that you can buy over the counter are generally safe. This is because they have a very low concentration of the gel or active ingredient that whitens teeth. But to get the best results, a professional teeth whitening procedure prescribed by a dentist will always trump trying to whiten your teeth at home. The overall colour improvement from whitening DIY methods may be limited.
The procedure is also not that painful, so there is no need to worry. Some people may experience some sensitivity or discomfort after whitening their teeth. However, this is only temporary and should go away within a day or two.
If you do have sensitive teeth, you can use desensitizing toothpaste or rinses to help manage them. Do this one week before you get your teeth whitened.
And while you can get teeth whitened at non-dental establishments, remember a few pointers:
- First, there is no guarantee of safety with the materials used.
- Second, the results are often not as good as those at a dental office.
Get Teeth Whitening in Oro Valley, AZ
Contact Oro Valley Dental Arts for teeth whitening in the Oro Valley right now! We’re an all-around dental provider that takes care of your oral health through services like hygiene, Invisalign, crowns, veneers, and teeth whitening! Book your appointment today by calling (520) 297-2007 or emailing at office@orovalleydentalarts.com!
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