Should You Trust Natural Teeth Whitening Solutions?

Our Bedford dentist offers advice and words of caution.

For some, the desire to find the cheapest and quickest ways to get things done overwhelms the need to check the quality and safety of the products or services they are using. We also see this in the area of ‘DIY’ dentistry where some people try the misguided approach of trying to improve the appearance of their teeth themselves.

One such area is teeth whitening and, with the internet at our disposal, there is certainly no shortage of suggestions of natural ways to whiten teeth cheaply.

Unfortunately, those articles are rarely written by anyone with any professional dental knowledge, and, however well-intentioned, can cause more harm than good. Below, we take a look at some of the more common suggestions available on natural teeth whitening, and discuss the problems that can arise if you try to pursue them.

Household bleach

The first of these should really go without saying. The idea of brushing your teeth with a household bleach is simply downright dangerous. As well as any damage that it will certainly do to your teeth, you will also suffer from burns to the lips, gums and even, potentially, your throat. Put quite simply, you should NEVER try this!

Lemon juice

The use of lemon juice to whiten teeth is perhaps the most common solution a quick search on the internet will throw up. This is based on the idea that it can act as a bleaching agent in the same way that a professional whitening procedure does, Unfortunately though, it’s not as simple as that. The amount of ‘bleaching agent’ used in a professional treatment is carefully regulated and monitored so that it will cause no harm to the enamel on your teeth.

Lemon juice on the other hand, is extremely acidic, and,  if used over a long period of time, as it would need to be to see any improvement in the whiteness of your teeth, will gradually erode the protective enamel on your teeth. This not only increases the risk of tooth decay but is also likely to increase the sensitivity of your teeth, potentially causing significant discomfort.

Oil pulling

This procedure stems from an ancient Indian tradition and involves swilling coconut oil around the mouth for periods of twenty minutes or more in the belief that this will pull away bacteria and staining materials from the mouth. In reality though, it is more likely to leave the user with an unpleasant sensation in their mouth and may even cause vomiting. Whiter teeth are one of the more unlikely consequences of this practice and there is no real evidence to suggest that it works at all.

The old saying that ‘you get what you pay for’ applies to dental procedures as it does elsewhere, and the truth is that a professional teeth whitening procedure is actually quite affordable and is a safe and effective way of having a winning smile without putting the health or your teeth and gums at risk.

If you would like to find out more about the teeth whitening treatments on offer at The Dental Centre Bedford, please call us today on 01234 819868.