TOOTH WHITENING MYTHS & TRUTHS

DENTAL

TEETH WHITENING: MYTHS & TRUTHS

BY JESSICA ZIMMER

Whitening your teeth safely begins with basic oral hygiene. A combination of healthy practices and avoiding dangerous home remedies will lead to a brighter smile. As a rule, sticky, sugary substances like caramel can damage teeth. Fibrous, natural foods like apples and celery help clean teeth. Tobacco stains teeth. It’s a good idea to brush after using tobacco products.

TRUTH: FLOSSING AND BRUSHING AFTER EATING LEADS TO WHITER TEETH. Removing bits of food ensures there will be less plaque on the teeth. If the meal contained something highly acidic like oranges, wait about 20 minutes to brush.

TRUTH: CERTAIN FOODS AND DRINKS ARE MORE LIKELY TO STAIN TEETH, INCLUDING NUTS, CHOCOLATE, COFFEE, TEA, COLA, AND RED WINE. TRUTH: CHEWING SUGAR-FREE GUM AFTER EATING CLEANS TEETH. Xylitol, a key ingredient in many sugar-free gums, slows the growth of plaque and makes saliva less acidic.

TRUTH: AVOID STAINING FOODS AFTER A WHITENING TREATMENT. It helps to avoid foods like blackberries and sauces. Opt instead for raw foods like carrots that help remove food particles from teeth. TRUTH: DRINKING CERTAIN LIQUIDS THROUGH A STRAW KEEPS TEETH WHITER. Keeping iced coffee, fruit juices, and dark sodas like root beer off teeth reduces the likelihood of staining.

MYTH: APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (ACV) IS SAFE FOR CLEANING TEETH. ACV may remove bacteria from teeth but it’s also highly acidic and can erode tooth enamel. ACV can also damage the throat and have negative interactions with medications.

MYTH: AT-HOME WHITENING KITS RELY ON THE SAME TECHNIQUES AS DENTISTS. Dentists typically use a high-intensity light that makes a tooth whitening bleach work faster. Home tooth whitening kits tend to include hydrogen peroxide. If products containing hydrogen peroxide are used incorrectly or too often, this can lead to tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. Gels in home whitening kits are also not as strong as the gels that a dentist uses.

MYTH: IT’S SAFE TO WHITEN TEETH OFTEN. Typically, two to four tooth whitening treatments in a dentist’s office per year are sufficient. More treatments can damage enamel. For best results, consider contacting a dentist about tooth whitening on a quarterly basis.