Can you bleach your teeth at home

From wedding dresses to recipes and beyond, anyone can post or “pin” ideas they have to the popular website Pinterest—including health tips. But if some of the do-it-yourself teeth whitening advice you see there seems too good to be true, it’s likely because it is. UR Medicine dental expert Dr. Hans Malmstrom explains why some of the tips may have negative consequences.

Pinterest Tip: To whiten teeth, use a mouth guard with 2 parts baking soda to 1 part hydrogen peroxide, 10 minutes daily for 2 weeks.

Dr. Malmstrom: It’s not a good idea to use a mouth guard for whitening that’s not specifically fitted for your mouth by a dentist because the hydrogen peroxide could irritate your gums. If your gums are recessed and the hydrogen peroxide touches an exposed tooth root surface, this can also cause a problem.

Another potential issue can be the amount of hydrogen peroxide used. The concentration approved as safe and effective by the FDA and ADA for tooth whitening (10 percent Carbamide Peroxide) is similar to 3.6 percent hydrogen peroxide. Since it would be extremely difficult to mix the amount of hydrogen peroxide accurately when you’re using it at home, it’s not a good idea to try this whitening method.

Pinterest Tip: Wet your toothbrush and then dip it in 1/8 teaspoon turmeric powder. Brush teeth as normal but, instead of rinsing when you’re done, allow the turmeric to sit on your teeth for 3 to 5 minutes. Spit and rinse thoroughly then follow with a second brushing using your regular toothpaste.

Can you bleach your teeth at home
Dr. Malmstrom: There are many studies showing how turmeric is good for you internally, but there are no studies showing turmeric to be an effective tooth whitener. I would not recommend any method that hasn’t already been proven to work, as we have safe and effective techniques that have been researched.

Pinterest Tip: Make coconut oil toothpaste by mixing 1 part coconut oil with 1 part baking soda. Add 3 to 5 drops of food-grade essential oils to flavor to your taste. Allow your paste to cool and set.

Dr. Malmstrom: The baking soda in this tip may have some impact on whitening your teeth but there are no studies showing if coconut oil works as a tooth whitener. If you’re going to do tooth whitening at home, you’re better off using an over-the-counter product rather than a DIY technique.

Pinterest Tip: Mix 3 teaspoons of baking soda with 2 teaspoons of lemon juice. Use a Q-tip or cotton ball and gently swab teeth. After 30 seconds, rinse and brush teeth.

Dr. Malmstrom: Lemon juice is acidic, and even whitening gels are not good if they’re acidic because you can remove the superficial layer of the tooth structure. Most whitening gels are all neutral with a PH of 7 because you want to minimize the acidic effect on your teeth so it doesn’t impact the enamel layer. While this method may have a positive effect because of the baking soda, it’s not recommended to use an acidic on the tooth first as it may erode some of the enamel. This is similar to the effect cola or sports drinks have on teeth because they are also highly acidic.

Other Tooth Whitening Advice

  • Before you do any bleaching, even with over-the-counter products, you should have your teeth checked by your dentist for any tooth problems, such as cavities or cracks, which could cause the pulp to become irritated during whitening.
  • Whitening toothpaste is not very effective for whitening. You have to use it for a long time to see even the slightest effect.
  • The best way to bleach your teeth is at home with a lower-concentration hydrogen peroxide gel, as recommended by your dentist and used in mouth guards custom made by your dentist. The level of whitening achieved in an hour and a half of bleaching done by a dentist at the office can take up to two weeks with home bleaching, but there are fewer side effects and you have the opportunity to continue whitening until you are satisfied with the shade. Later on if you wish to “touch up” your teeth with more whitening, you would only need to buy more whitening gel.

Can you bleach your teeth at home
Hans Malmstrom, DDS, a professor of Dentistry at Eastman Institute for Oral Health, heads the General Dentistry clinic at Eastman Dental.

Can you bleach your teeth at home

A report says that U.S citizens spend more than 1 billion dollars on tooth cavity treatment and teeth whitening products every year. These products might be able to whiten your teeth, but they can also damage them because they are manufactured out of chemicals. As a result, your precious smile would be spoiled and stained. What could be the solution? Don’t overthink; we have you covered! Using natural products and ways for teeth whitening is your way to go. Here are six ways for you to naturally whiten your teeth without the use of any harmful chemicals:

First things first, brush your teeth regularly:

Let’s get this out of the way immediately, brushing your teeth daily is the most important thing to do to keep your teeth shining bright. If you have not been brushing regularly, be sure to start doing it right now. If you have been brushing your teeth daily and your teeth still turn out to be yellowish, try brushing more often, especially after having meals or drinks, which can lead to yellow teeth.

However, don’t brush immediately after taking acidic foods or drinks because it might lead to erosion.

To give your smile some extra glamour, try using tooth-whitening toothpaste. These kinds of toothpaste use mild abrasives, which can help to remove tough stains from teeth surfaces. However, if you’re having any problem using such toothpaste, it’s a good idea to refer to your dentist.

Oil pulling:

Oil pulling is a traditional teeth whitening remedy by Indians. This technique is also meant to improve your overall oral health and hygiene. 

To perform oil pulling, you have to squish oil around in your mouth. Any oil could be used for oil pulling, but sunflower oil and sesame oil are mostly used. Coconut oil is also a popular option as it tastes delightful and offers other health benefits as well.

Oil pulling is useful because it helps remove many types of bacteria from the mouth. These bacteria cause plaque and make your teeth yellowish. Hence, oil pulling could be very useful for you in your tooth whitening quest.

There’s no scientific evidence supporting the fact that oil pulling is useful for tooth whitening, but the people who used this technique are pleased with the results. Plus, there’s no harm in giving it a try, is there?

To perform oil pulling with coconut oil, take one tablespoon of it and squish it around in your mouth. Continue this process for 15 to 20 minutes.

Brush with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide paste:

Baking soda has teeth whitening properties; that’s why it’s prevalent in toothpaste commercials. It helps in rubbing off stains from the tooth surface due to its mildly abrasive nature. Hydrogen peroxide, on the other hand, is a natural bleaching agent. It also helps in killing bacteria. People have been using hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria on wounds for many, many years now. 

What do you get if you could make a toothpaste of the two substances? A perfect tooth whitening solution! Take one tablespoon of baking soda and two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. Mix both the contents, and you’ll end up with a paste. Use this paste to brush your teeth regularly. It’s not magic; you wouldn’t get super shiny teeth just after one session. Use this paste daily, and you’ll eventually start to see the difference. 

You can also make a mouthwash with the same ratio of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, plus some water. 

Both the substances are harmless, but if you’re feeling you have done something wrong, like using the wrong ingredients, see your dentist immediately.

Rub banana, orange, or lemon peels:

Just like oil pulling, this remedy also doesn’t have any scientific research supporting it. However, the people who gave it a shot are happy with the results. Plus, it doesn’t involve any harmful chemicals, so why not?

To perform this “trick,” take a banana, orange, or lemon peel and gently rub it on your teeth. Keep rubbing it for about 2 minutes, then thoroughly wash your mouth and brush your teeth.

The peels of these fruits contain citric acid, which theoretically helps in teeth whitening. If you’re having sensitivity issues, chances are your teeth enamel is weak or has worn off. In that case, it’s not recommended to use this remedy. If you have already tried and are having trouble with your teeth, visiting your dentist should be your immediate response.

Take a diet rich in fruits and vegetables:

Crunchy fruits and vegetables are known to rub off plaque from your teeth while you chew them. They are not a replacement for brushing your teeth, of course, but any remedy is an excellent remedy if it gives results as expected. Plus, fruits and vegetables are known to be very useful for your overall health, that’s a win-win for you.

Two of the fruits which have been claimed to whiten your teeth are pineapple and strawberry. An enzyme named “bromelain” found in pineapple effectively removes stains and is useful in overall tooth whitening. Strawberries, on the other hand, contain malic acid, which is known to remove discoloration on your teeth and make them appear whiter.

Go to the dentist:

If none of those mentioned above remedies seem to work for you and your teeth are continuously becoming more and more yellowish, it might be time to let a professional handle this, a dentist in this case, of course. Veneers or dental implants might be your choice instead of teeth with poor color and health. Veneers are fragile wafers of porcelain which are permanently mounted onto your teeth. Veneers mask your teeth and display an artificial color, shape, or positioning. Veneers are not actually a “teeth whitening” solution, but they can make your smile look brighter by masking an artificial layer on your teeth. If your teeth’s health and color don’t seem to be repairable, dental implants could be the way to go. Dental implants are metal posts that are meant to hold artificial teeth replacements on them. 

Can you put bleach directly on your teeth?

Bleach is a corrosive substance. Since your gums and teeth are porous, using bleach on them can result in damage to the living tissues inside your mouth and fail to provide the whitening results you are seeking.

How can I safely bleach my teeth?

7 dentist-approved tips to safely whiten your teeth.
Consult with your dentist for best teeth-whitening options. ... .
Over-the-counter products are good alternative whitening options. ... .
Be mindful of home remedies. ... .
Refrain from high-colored foods and drinks. ... .
Consult a dentist if you suffer from tooth sensitivity..

How can I get rid of yellow teeth at home?

Therefore, it is better to try a few natural home remedies for teeth whitening. Fruits such as pineapple, papaya, strawberries and banana peel might help whiten teeth naturally. Baking soda, activated charcoal, coconut, sunflower, sesame oil, and dairy products are some other kitchen ingredients.

How long does it take for hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth?

Generally at this concentration you would need to have your teeth in contact with the 3% hydrogen peroxide for about 5 hours a day for about 2-3 weeks to have meaningful tooth whitening, which is very difficult to do with a watery liquid.