Whitening Teeth at Home

Whitening teeth at home can be easier and more effective than you’d expect. From home whitening kits to materials you have in your kitchen and medicine cabinet, there are a variety of ways to get white teeth without visiting the dentist for a power-bleaching session. Treatments that take several days or weeks are usually more effective at keeping your teeth white, and they are also significantly cheaper.

There are several different ways of whitening teeth at home. A lot of people like to save money and avoid harsh chemicals by using natural whitening methods, but these require some caution. Some people recommend applying fruit acids like lemon or strawberry juice to your teeth to dissolve stains, but this can actually weaken your enamel and make you more prone to cavities. Baking soda is another favorite, and this one works well but also wears down enamel. The best strategy is to use baking soda very sparingly and very occasionally.

Hydrogen peroxide is everyone’s favorite tooth-bleaching solution, and for good reason. Peroxide does a great job of oxidizing those yellow stains on your teeth. In fact, almost all whitening methods from mouthwash to power-bleaching use hydrogen peroxide to get results. The big difference between them all is the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. You can buy a bottle of peroxide at the drug store and use it as a mouthwash, but it won’t be the same concentration as the stuff the professionals use. That’s ok though, because highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide can burn your skin and gums.

A visit to your local drug store will reveal all sorts of different methods for whitening teeth at home. There are whitening toothpastes, strips that stick on your teeth, and systems that involve sticking trays full of peroxide gel in your mouth. Whitening toothpaste works the same way that baking soda does, although it is usually less abrasive. The toothpaste contains tiny particles that help scrub the stains off your teeth. Whitening toothpaste works best on newer stains.

Whitening strips and tray systems can be extremely effective over time, especially when used properly. If you don’t follow the directions, you could end up hurting your tooth enamel or burning your gums. The trays are usually left on for 30 minutes or more, some are supposed to be worn all night while you sleep. The biggest complaint that most people have about the trays is poor fit. When the trays don’t fit very well, they can make your mouth sore after a while. Badly fitted trays can also result in less effective bleaching if they don’t hold the peroxide gel against your teeth the whole time.

Your dentist can make custom-fitted trays for you to use when whitening teeth at home. These are a good compromise between dentist bleaching and home bleaching. You can save them for future use so you can keep whitening your teeth for months or years. A visit to your dentist is a good idea before trying any kind of bleaching or whitening method. The dentist can tell you what condition your enamel is in, and what methods to avoid. If you have had a lot of dental work, you want to avoid making your teeth too light because your fillings and crowns won’t bleach the same color as your tooth enamel. Cavities also make bleaching a very bad idea.