Teeth Whitening Myths Debunked

An alarming number of Australians are not happy with their teeth, with many saying they wished they were a shade or two whiter. Once you get it into your head that you want whiter teeth, you may start looking online at ways you can whiten them without going to the dentist.

With the expert help from Bali Health Care, we found out that unfortunately, the internet is full of mistruths, with many different whitening methods online no more than myths. Below, we debunk many of the more common teeth whitening treatment methods that you may have considered trying. The most effective is always going to be in-house whitening treatment with your local and experienced dentist.

Baking Soda Whitens Your Teeth

The only thing baking soda will do to your teeth is disrupt your good-to-bad bacteria ratio. It is not an effective teeth whitening method. It is, however, perfect for homemade cleaning products!

Whitening Gum and Toothpaste is as Effective as In-House Whitening

Many whitening tubes of toothpaste and chewing gums have whitening chemicals in them but at low doses. You may see minor changes over time in your teeth, but nowhere near what in-house whitening treatment with your dentist can achieve. What’s more, whitening chemicals need at least 20 minutes on your teeth to be effective.

Using Hydrogen Peroxide as a Mouth Rinse Whitens Your Teeth

It doesn’t. Hydrogen peroxide causes a free radical reaction when it comes into contact with your gum tissue. You should, under no circumstances, use hydrogen peroxide as a mouth rinse to whiten your teeth.

Over-The-Counter Whitening Gels are As Useful as Those From Your Dentist

The whitening gels your dentist uses are far stronger than those you buy over the counter. However, different brands have varying levels of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to whiten your teeth.

When You Whiten Your Teeth, They Stay White Forever

Once you see your dentist for an in-chair teeth whitening session, your teeth can be the whitest you’ve seen them in a long time. However, your food and beverage choices along with aging mean your teeth won’t stop changing colour. Your dentist may recommend a take-home tray for touch-ups.

You Can Be Any Age To Whiten Your Teeth

Only adults should get whitening treatment. In extreme cases, children may be eligible at your dentist’s discretion. Whitening treatment can damage the live tissue in children’s teeth.

Why Are My Teeth Yellow?

It can be frustrating, when you look back on photos of you as a child, to see how white your teeth used to be. Why aren’t they like that now?

The following can turn your teeth yellow:

• Coffee and tea
• Cigarettes
• Thin tooth enamel
• A poor diet
• Antibiotics
• Genetics
• Lollies
• Soft drinks

Rather than try out “might work” methods you find online, why don’t you try something that has a better success rate? Make an appointment with your dentist and find out whether in-chair teeth whitening or take-home whitening trays are right for you.