Four Teeth Whitening Myths and the Truth Surrounding These Myths

23 March 2020
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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If you have stains on your teeth or your teeth are yellowing, you may turn to the internet and begin looking for ways to whiten or brighten your smile. Unfortunately, there are many myths floating around about teeth whitening. Here are four common myths that you may hear about teeth whitening and the truth surrounding these myths. 

Myth 1: You Can Whiten Your Teeth Using Hydrogen Peroxide

One of the myths out there is that you can gargle or put hydrogen peroxide on your teeth to whiten them. While hydrogen peroxide is an agent that is used in many home whitening aids, you should never routinely gargle or rinse with straight hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide can damage the enamel on your teeth, which can lead to permanent discoloration. Hydrogen peroxide can also be rough on your gums, causing gum bleeding, blistering, or sensitivity. 

Myth 2: You Should Avoid Whitening Teeth If You Have Sensitive Teeth

Another common myth that is floating around out there about teeth whitening is that you should avoid whitening your teeth if you have sensitive teeth. If you have sensitive teeth, you are more likely to experience discomfort when whitening your teeth. This is the reason why you should avoid home whitening and leave whitening to the professionals. A professional can help to whiten your teeth while preventing discomfort. 

Myth 3: You Can Use Acidic Fruits and Juices to Whiten Your Teeth

When you look online, you may see that you can whiten your teeth using acidic fruits and juices, such as rubbing strawberries or oranges on your teeth or rubbing pure lemon juice on your teeth. These techniques may gradually whiten your teeth a minimal amount over a long period of time, but they do not provide fast or major changes. The damage done by acidic fruits and juices also typically outweighs the benefits of whitening with these methods. 

Myth 4: Professionally Whitened Teeth Cannot Become Stained Again

The final common myth related to teeth whitening is that once your teeth are professionally whitened, they cannot become stained again. Your teeth can become stained again. Professional whitening only removes tartar, build-up, and stains. It does not coat or protect your teeth from future staining in any way. 

Home whitening is great if you only need to whiten your teeth a few shades. However, if you are looking to remove stains or drastically whiten your teeth, cosmetic dentistry is the best option for you. Reach out to a cosmetic dentist office, such as Kemper Pond Dental, today to schedule a consultation to discuss changes you want made to your teeth, including whitening.