Yes. The more important question is if you should whiten your teeth at home. The answer to that question is a hard no, and there are so many reasons why. In this article we’re looking at the five most popular DIY teeth whitening approaches, why they can be potentially harmful to you and your teeth, and where to go for professional teeth whitening in Durban.
Common DIY teeth whitening techniques
There’s a reason professional teeth whitening salons like The Smile Bar exist. If the below homemade teeth whitening ‘solutions’ actually gave you the results you were looking for, there would be no need for whitening salons in the first place.
- Bicarbonate of Soda
Brush with bicarb twice a day and whiten your teeth like the professionals, right? Not quite, and this one has been making the rounds for generations. There is no evidence to suggest that bicarb is an effective teeth-whitening agent, and it can potentially end up damaging your tooth enamel over time.
- Acidic Fruit
Another popular wives’ tale for removing stains and blemishes from teeth is to eat acidic fruits like pineapples, oranges, and others. The reality is that all this does is eat away at your teeth’s enamel more rapidly, not to mention the amount of sugar you’ll be subjecting your teeth to.
- Charcoal
Brushing with charcoal is also a popular DIY teeth-whitening approach, and it’s unfortunate that it isn’t as effective as some might be made to believe. Charcoal is actually pretty abrasive on your teeth, and you run the risk of causing abrasions and enamel breakdown in the long term.
- UV-light
Using UV light to whiten teeth is another questionable approach to getting the pearly whites a few shades whiter. The potential for harm is constantly there, and we are definitely in favour of opting for UV-free LED Plasma Light technology instead of Ultra Violet.
- Hydrogen Peroxide
Have you ever bought one of those all-in-one teeth whitening kits, complete with tubes of peroxiding gel, gloves, and clamp-down mouthpieces? Applying peroxide to any part of one’s body should be done with caution, especially in sensitive areas like your mouth.
The dangers of whitening your teeth at home
Again, it’s totally possible to try whitening your teeth at home. And if you do it diligently, you might even end up whitening your teeth a few shades eventually. But what damage will you be doing to your teeth and mouth in the process?
- Abrasions and cracks
Abrasive substances like charcoal, Bicarbonate of Soda, and others are almost guaranteed to eventually cause abrasions and even cracks on your teeth.
- Wearing down enamel
Corrosive substances like acidic fruits and apple cider vinegar will wear down your tooth enamel over time, eventually leading to sensitivity and other complications.
- Damage to gum tissue
Some teeth whitening treatments can even end up leading to damage of the gum tissue, like when hydrogen peroxide-based solutions are administered incorrectly.
Let a professional teeth whitening salon handle it
The Smile Bar is a professional teeth whitening salon in Durban. The products we use to whiten teeth are made by Brilliant Smile™ Sweden, global leaders in teeth whitening. Our UV-free LED teeth whitening is safe and harmless, and we guarantee results. That’s what sets a teeth-whitening salon apart from your DIY, homemade tooth-whitening approaches. Contact The Smile Bar to book a teeth whitening appointment.
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