5 of the Best Teeth Whitening Myths Debunked
Over the years, your teeth may have become stained. Whether it’s from genetics or from your choices of food and drinks, either way, your pearly whites are more like pearly yellows.
So you may want to whiten your teeth but have heard lots of scary things surrounding this topic. To help you out, here are 5 of the best teeth whitening myths debunked.
1. It Ruins Your Enamel
Enamel is the hard, shiny surface of your tooth that protects the nerves of your teeth. There’s a myth floating about that in order to whiten your teeth, the enamel must be stripped off.
There’s some truth to this: some over-the-counter whitening products may ruin your enamel, especially if you use them more than recommended. However, if you choose to get your teeth professionally whitened, you won’t have to worry about this.
2. One Treatment Will Last a Lifetime
Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as “one and done” when it comes to teeth whitening. Seeing as you’ll carry on with eating, drinking, smoking, and genetics will keep churning, your teeth will inevitably get stained once again.
With the best treatments, you can maybe stretch your dental visits to once every 2 years for whitening. Otherwise, you’ll have to go back for touch-ups once you notice staining again.
The best thing to do is to try and stay away from food and drinks that cause staining, such as tea, coffee, and red wine. You can also brush your teeth 1 hour after you eat.
3. You Can Use Household Items to Whiten Teeth Yourself
This would be awesome if it were true, but unfortunately, it’s not. Many myths claim you can use strawberries, lemons, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and other household items to whiten teeth. But not only are they ineffective, but they also may be harmful to do.
4. It Costs a Ton to Get Done Professionally
You may have heard that it costs an arm and a leg to have your teeth whitened professionally, so you’ve stuck to at-home remedies or trays. But the truth is, the teeth whitening cost will be quite affordable.
While it won’t cost as little as over-the-counter whitening strips, the results will be better and will last longer as well.
5. You Can Use Whitening Toothpaste to Make a Difference
Many kinds of toothpaste claim they can whiten teeth, but this is all just a marketing ploy. For effective teeth whitening, you need to leave whatever substance you use on your teeth for at least 20 minutes for it to make a difference. We’re guessing you don’t leave your toothpaste on your pearly whites for that long.
Get the Best Teeth Whitening with Your Dentist
To get the best teeth whitening done, you should make an appointment with your dentist. Not only is it a quick and easy procedure, but they know how to whiten your teeth most effectively. This treatment doesn’t cost much, so ditch the at-home whitening trays and go see your dentist.
For other articles regarding your teeth, please take a look at our dental health section.