Teeth whitening strips are an affordable, convenient way to get a brighter smile at home. Although they can effectively whiten your teeth, whitening strips can start to damage your teeth if you wear them too long or use them too often. The bleaching agents in whitening strips can increase your risk of tooth sensitivity, gum irritation, or in the worst cases, tooth damage. The peroxide can be harsh on your tooth enamel and gums and, if used too often, can start to destroy the layers of your teeth and cause erosion. This is why it’s so important to follow the manufacturer's instructions and talk to your dentist if you are experiencing discomfort or painful tooth sensitivity after using teeth whitening strips.
You may have heard that baking soda can clean your teeth and remove surface stains, but baking soda isn't the best or most effective teeth whitening option. If you use household baking soda, its abrasiveness can weaken parts of your tooth enamel and increase sensitivity. It's generally safer to use a whitening toothpaste than it is to brush with baking soda.
We recommend trying our Colgate Deep Clean with Baking Soda Toothpaste! It helps to fight cavities and remove plaque while gently removing stains from your teeth with a non-abrasive formula that uses baking soda safely – it’s a great way to naturally whiten your teeth!
Unfortunately, using lemon juice, apple cider vinegar or another acidic liquid to whiten your teeth can cause enamel erosion. Keep in mind the NHS says that citrus fruits, such as lemons, are one of the foods that can damage teeth.
One-size-fits-all teeth whitening trays sold in shops can lead to some problems. The whitening gel may leak if the tray doesn't fit your mouth, potentially irritating your gums. Also, if the whitening ingredients leak out of the tray, you may not see results! These are the reasons why getting a customised tray from your dentist is often more effective, even if it is more expensive than the over-the-counter whitening trays.
You may be used to seeing recommendations for at-home teeth whitening on social media, using household products like hydrogen peroxide or even bleach. However, these products were not created for oral care and can lead to damage or worse. Always seek out oral care products from oral care experts!
As well as the five common teeth whitening mistakes above, other mistakes can be made when people whiten their own teeth. Here are a few additional ones that come up often:
If you don't follow the correct instructions for teeth whitening or go for unregulated treatments at beauty salons, you may suffer the effects of teeth whitening gone wrong. Some of the side effects include:
If you’re in pursuit of a brighter smile, remember these five common mistakes as you search, and always speak with your dentist about teeth whitening options. They can recommend the best whitening treatment or product for your needs to ensure you don't accidentally cause damage or tooth sensitivity. There are safe ways to do at-home teeth whitening that will leave you with great results, especially when you ask a professional before starting any treatment.
ORAL HEALTH QUIZ
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ORAL HEALTH QUIZ
Take our Oral Health assessment to get the most from your oral care routine