With the Coronavirus raging and social distancing guidelines being followed, it is highly inadvisable to see a dentist for cosmetic purposes, like whitening your teeth. But you’re stuck at home, you’re bored, and you just can’t help but notice that you’re smile could use a good whitening. So what do you do?
At-Home Teeth Whitening Solutions
There is no shortage of DIY teeth whitening solutions in the market today, but are they safe?
Whitening Strips
This is one of the most common and least expensive teeth whitening tools available. They aren’t a terrible option, but they can most definitely cause your teeth to become more sensitive with damage, especially if you over-use them. Not only that but they can also cause white spots to appear on your gums and if the strips fail to permeate the spaces between your teeth, you can get uneven whitening.
So, if you do go this route, we recommend no more than once annually.
Whitening Pens
This is a very mild form of whitening. The pens contain Hydrogen Peroxide, but cannot contain more than 6%, meaning they won’t be the most effective whitening solution. But even at 6%, you can still experience tooth sensitivity and/or gum irritation, so it really might not be worth it.
DIY UV Whitening Kits
These kits contain bleach, and can result in a wide-range of issues, from stomach irritation to gum damage and nerve shrinkage. Although they claim to be safe, using a UV Whitening Kit is risky.
Baking Soda Whitening Toothpaste
As you know, baking soda is a natural whitener. So while baking soda toothpaste will work to whiten teeth, it’s important that you are aware that it is also rather abrasive, which can damage the enamel of your teeth if you use it long term, causing not only sensitivity, but cavities as well. We don’t recommend daily use and if you experience any kind of burning or other discomfort, you should stop right away and rinse your mouth.
Whitening Conclusion
Whitening your teeth at home can be risky, and we know it might start to wear on you if you detect a flaw in your smile, your safest bet is to wait this out and
consult with Dr. Garrett, your Wilmington, NC cosmetic dentist, before beginning any DIY teeth whitening regimen.
