Teeth Whitening Fads Explained
It seems like every other month, the internet is awash with news about another new teeth whitening trick. Where do all these fads come from? Do they work? And most importantly – are they safe for you and your teeth?
We’re here to give you the scoop from a dentist’s perspective.
Oil Pulling
Pop a teaspoon of olive oil into your mouth, swish it around for 20 minutes and make sure you have an empty stomach when you do it. That’s oil pulling, a recent popular teeth whitening fad.
Does it work? Well, we can’t be sure. But there’s not much research into the subject, and so far there is no evidence to show that it whitens teeth or reduces staining.
Pros: May reduce gum inflammation and bacteria levels
Cons: Takes a long time and is technique sensitive – better results can be achieved with a toothbrush and toothpaste
Tooth whitening: No evidence to show it works or reduces staining
Activated Charcoal
Have you seen charcoal toothpaste appearing on the shelves of your local grocery? It’s part of another rising trend – using charcoal to whiten teeth.
Does it work? At first, yes. But eventually, it can stain your teeth grey! One study by Creighton University School of Dentistry found that prolonged use of charcoal toothpaste resulted in a significant loss of enamel. And eventually, the charcoal penetrated teeth and gave them a grey shade.
Pros: May help to remove some surface stains and delay the recurrence of stains
Cons: Doesn’t contain fluoride and may cause staining or greying around existing fillings or crevices
Tooth whitening: There is no evidence to show it whitens the teeth from the inside
Spices, Fruit and Natural Whitening Remedies
This heading represents a huge swathe of natural tooth whitening remedies that you can find with a quick Google search for ‘natural tooth whitening’.
Brushing your teeth with turmeric and using strawberries to whiten your teeth are two of the most common methods here. And while they won’t do you any harm, they haven’t been proven to whiten teeth in any way.
Pros: May reduce gum inflammation and bacteria levels
Cons: Can be costly. Strawberries are not what you would call cheap!
Tooth whitening: No evidence to show that it whitens teeth
Tooth Whitening Strips and Kits
Strips that you fix to your teeth and trays that you use to bathe your teeth in whitening solutions have become common on store shelves and online advertisements.
The basic verdict here is that while these products might produce some whitening effect, this entire industry is poorly regulated. This means you may be putting unknown ingredients in your mouth and potentially suffering chemical burns or other unknown consequences.
Pros: Cheap
Cons: Unknown ingredients, risk of increased sensitivity or chemical burns to the gums
Tooth whitening: Might produce some whitening effect, however safety remains a concern
So What Really Does Work?
Simply put, there just isn’t much research around these teeth whitening fads, and most of them have not been proven to work.
If you’re looking for a dependable, safe and effective way to get a brighter smile, you ought to stick with dentist-approved kits or professional in-the-chair whitening treatments. We offer both at Redbank Plains Dental – have a look at our teeth whitening services here.
Providing safe, reliable and family-friendly dental services is how we have built a reputation as a top-reviewed Goodna dentist. If you need whitening or any sort of dental treatment, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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