How to Whiten Your Teeth Without Damaging Them

How to Whiten Your Teeth Without Damaging Them-Bliss Oral Care
Eating certain foods, drinking coffee, smoking, and the natural aging process of our teeth all collude together in helping discolour our teeth.  

Teeth whitening is safe and effective, but using teeth whitening products incorrectly can lead to permanent teeth damage.  Following is a list of issues that can occur when using teeth whitening products incorrectly:

  • Gum irritation
  • Tooth sensitivity
  • Worsening of tooth discolouration
  • Tooth fractures
  • Loss of protective enamel (the white coloured outer layer of the teeth)

To avoid these issues, it is as simple as following the directions and instructions provided by legitimate teeth whitening products.  Let’s unwrap this more!

At-Home DIY Teeth Whitening Methods 

Teeth Whitening Strips:  Easily becoming the go-to for do-it-yourselfers, teeth whitening strips are the first teeth whitening products to be given the seal of approval by the American Dental Association (ADA).  

Whitening strips are often slapped on casually, as the concept of their use is pretty simple.  Here is where reading the directions is essential to avoid any damage that might occur to your teeth.  READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!

Teeth Whitening Strips

Whitening Toothpaste:  Whitening toothpastes contain low concentrations of carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide which both can help whiten teeth.  As with whitening strips, most of us would not normally consider whitening toothpaste as a potential danger to our teeth.

However, whitening toothpastes can be abrasive.  It is commonly described as feeling “sandy” or “gritty” when brushing.  This is actually a good thing as the friction is what is helping to clean the surface of your teeth.  

Brushing too long or too hard with whitening toothpaste can and will cause damage to your teeth as it can actually remove the outer enamel (the white coloured layer that we are trying to preserve). 

Baking Soda:  This “old” and often overlooked method of whitening teeth at home has seen a resurgence in popularity.  Complaints of baking soda being too abrasive quickly vanished with the advent of teeth whitening toothpastes.  This normalised the “abrasive” feeling in our mouths 

which has always been the few criticisms of using baking soda.

The same rule applies to using baking soda as to using whitening toothpastes.  They are abrasive for a reason.  They are intended to deep clean the surface of your teeth.  Make sure to brush your teeth gently or otherwise face risk of causing damage to your teeth.

Professional Teeth Cleaning

Professional Teeth Cleaning

Though this option is the one that we are all trying to avoid, we would be misleading if we did not mention this as a way in which we can whiten your teeth without damaging them. 

You probably shouldn’t visit a teeth whitening professional if you find yourself on this list:

  • You have crowns, fillings, or other dental work done.  These teeth restorations will not whiten - thus making it something to consider before spending the money
  • You are allergic to peroxide
  • You are pregnant
  • You are nursing
  • You have sensitive gums or teeth
  • You have worn enamel
  • You have cavities
  • You have exposed roots or gum disease
  • You have “white spots” - or decalcification.  These spots will become whiter.

Conclusion

Take care of yourself.  Healthy teeth and gums has long been associated with lowering the risk of heart disease, reduced joint inflammation, healthier pregnancies the list goes on.

Whitening our teeth without damaging them permanently is too often overlooked.  Make sure to read instructions and use teeth whitening products in Australia you can trust. 

 

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