One of the first things others notice about you is the quality of your smile, and if yours looks dark and dirty, you’re less likely to make a good impression. Some people with tinted teeth worry about being judged for their appearance and avoid spending time with others, which can detract from their daily quality of life.
If you’re unhappy with the shade of your smile, you might feel tempted to try popular home remedies to reduce stains. However, whitening your teeth with your dentist is usually better for your oral health. Continue reading to learn 3 reasons why!
Concern #1: Uneven Results
There are several potential ways to brighten your enamel, but they don’t all provide the same outcome. Popular at-home solutions, like applying lemon juice or activated charcoal, are rumored to be easy ways to lighten your grin. While these treatments might have some limited success, they often aren’t strong enough to provide uniform results. Without official applicators, it’s difficult to know how much to apply, and certain areas might be more impacted than others, resulting in a patchwork smile.
You might have somewhat better luck with over-the-counter whitening strips and gels, but these often contain diluted bleaching agents that aren’t overly effective. Plus, they contain one-size-fits-all trays or strips that leave plenty of room for application errors that can lead to uneven results. The best way to achieve your dream tone is by visiting your dentist for professional-grade products and applicators for beautifully bright teeth.
Concern #2: Enamel Erosion
Another potential pitfall of using at-home remedies or commercial-grade whiteners is that they can harm your enamel. Although the protective outer layer of your teeth is the strongest substance that the human body produces, it’s not completely invisible. Overly acidic foods and drinks, including lemon juice used for whitening, can weaken your enamel and increase your vulnerability to cavities and injuries.
Activated charcoal can also be harmful because it contains tiny grains that can abrade the surface of your teeth. Gouging your enamel might remove discoloration to lighten your smile temporarily, but unfortunately, the grooves left behind make ideal places for pigmented particles to gather and stain them a deeper hue.
Concern #3: Developing Sensitivity
Most teeth whitening products contain bleaches, like hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, that undergo a chemical oxidation process when they come into contact with your saliva to break down stain molecules. This, in turn, reduces their size and color concentration to eliminate surface stains.
However, many store-bought products contain diluted whitening agents that are less effective, leading many people to misuse or overapply the harsh chemicals. If some gets on your gums, they might become inflamed or tender, and you might need to switch to a desensitizing toothpaste or visit your dentist to ease the ache.
Thankfully, your dentist examines your mouth before whitening your teeth with professional-grade products to ensure it’s as healthy as it is bright after treatment!
About the Practice
At Amberly Dental, you and your family benefit from two dentists with 20+ years of combined experience helping people build and maintain their strongest, most beautiful grins. They collaborate to provide a comprehensive menu of services at one convenient location, including cosmetics treatments to improve your appearance. They combine a caring approach with state-of-the-art technology to enhance patient comfort while delivering accurate results intended to last. They’re happy to provide professional-grade teeth whitening kits that contain ultra-concentrated gels and custom-fitted trays to achieve ideal results safely from the comfort of your home. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (402) 786-2007.