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By Alyce Collins
Senior Reporter
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Having the perfect smile is something that many Americans dream of, especially the 70 percent of people who think it is important to have attractive looking teeth. Indeed, this is why people of all ages go to great lengths to make their teeth pearly white, from professional treatments to at home remedies.
However, as much as you might think the latest trends and gimmicks are improving your dental health, they could actually be setting you back. In fact, dentist Fatima Khan, co-founder of Riven Oral Care, spoke to Newsweek about the common “mistakes” people tend to make when trying to whiten their teeth at home.
More Is Not Always Better
While you might think that the more you brush and treat your teeth, the whiter and cleaner they will be, that is not necessarily the case.
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By brushing too much and using whitening products too often, you may cause dental sensitivity, gum irritation, and potentially even enamel damage. As enamel acts as a protective shield for the sensitive inner layers of teeth, this is not something you want to wear away.
“You want to be careful with mild abrasives usually found in whitening toothpaste, such as activated charcoal, baking soda, silica, dicalcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Although they remove extrinsic staining, they can be harsh on the enamel and can cause enamel wear," Khan said.
“The loss of tooth enamel can lead to sensitivity, and it will make your teeth appear yellower. Keep in mind this option provides extrinsic whitening only and does not change the color of your tooth but rather removes surface stains."
Just like the rest of your body, teeth have their limits. They can only tolerate so much, so avoid using too many harsh chemicals on them as this could make them look chalky or translucent over time.
Don’t Chase Instant Results
Although some teeth whitening products may promise instant results, it is important to remember that it’s a gradual process. Achieving the perfect pearly whites requires consistency and patience, and there is no quick fix.
Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
“Many people tried a trend which involved mixing baking soda with hydrogen peroxide and using a boil and bite guard to hold it all in place,” Khan told Newsweek. “The issue is that baking soda can be pretty abrasive if you use it too often or in high concentrations, and it can actually damage your enamel. Plus, that boil and bite guard might not fit your mouth perfectly, so the hydrogen peroxide can leak out and irritate your gums or even burn them.”
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Brushing at The Wrong Time
Another common mistake is to brush teeth at the wrong time. It may feel right to brush your teeth immediately after applying a whitening treatment, but timing is vital. As many whitening products tend to soften the enamel, brushing straight away could damage the enamel further and make teeth more sensitive.
DIY whitening toothpastes contain man acidic ingredients which will erode enamel, and once that is gone, Khan tells Newsweek that teeth will look “yellower and will become more sensitive.” Teeth are typically more vulnerable after undergoing treatment, so caution is everything.
“There are recommendations to rub orange and lemon peel or use lemon juice and mix with baking soda and brush. Also, adding baking soda yourself when formulating the paste can be more abrasive than the toothpastes with baking soda already in them because over the counter toothpastes are tested for abrasivity—the ones you will make yourself will not be,” Khan said.
Don’t Undo All the Improvements Straight Away
After buying the whitening products and using them at home, the last thing you should do is immediately reverse it. In addition to being more sensitive, enamel is also more porous right after whitening and will absorb stains faster.
This is a “common mistake” that Khan sees among patients who do not understand why the treatments aren’t working. You should avoid drinking coffee, tea, wine and eating things like berries.
Additionally, turmeric is known for its potency, but a once viral trend saw people brush their teeth with it before following up with regular toothpaste. There’s no denying that turmeric has many health benefits, Khan only recommends consuming it in food rather than trying to brush with it directly.
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“Turmeric is a pretty dark yellow color, and it can be tough to brush off completely. I've seen it stain the teeth and fillings of some of my patients because they didn't rinse their mouth and brush thoroughly enough after using it,” Khan said.
Rather than leaving teeth sparkling, trends such as this can leave them looking more yellow.
Achieving the perfect Hollywood smile is certainly possible, whether at home or in the dentist’s chair. But remember, timing and patience are just as important as the products themselves.
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