It’s trivia time!
What do you think is the most popular cosmetic procedure in the United States
today?
If you said
“breast enhancement” or “Botox” —- BZZZT! Thanks for playing and we have some
lovely consolation prizes for you. But if you said teeth whitening, you’re
right. In fact, a whopping 80% of Americans between the
ages of 18 and 49 say that they would like whiter teeth.
The pursuit of a
gleaming white smile has spawned a multi-billion-dollar global industry, as
well as a number of do-it-yourself approaches. These DIY teeth whitening
methods are certainly much less expensive than a trip to the dentist, but are
the effective? Are they safe? Let’s take a look at some of the many ways to get
whiter teeth at home!
Activated
Charcoal
It might seem a
little backwards to make your teeth whiter by applying a black substance to
them, but devotees of activated charcoal swear by this beauty hack.
How does it work?
They claim that it removes impurities from the teeth, leading to pearlier
whites. Unfortunately, charcoal also removes the protective layer of enamel
from your teeth over time.
Here’s the thing
about dental enamel: it doesn’t grow back like skin or hair. Once it’s gone,
it’s gone, and that puts you at risk for tooth decay, sensitivity, and —
ironically enough — increased staining and discoloration.
Baking Soda
and Lemon Juice
Lemon juice and
baking soda are both natural products, so many people believe they are
perfectly safe to use for bleaching teeth. After all, baking soda is a common
ingredient in many commercial toothpastes.
And as you might
recall from your 5th-grade science project volcano, the chemical reaction that
occurs when you add acid to baking soda is pretty impressive. All that bubbling
and foaming is clearly doing something, so why can’t that something be
whitening your teeth?
The acid and
sodium bicarbonate mixture will eat away at the stains on your teeth, but just
as with activated charcoal, it also eats away at the enamel itself. If you
apply it to your teeth using a tray to hold it in place, this solution will
irritate your gums. This all-natural tooth whitening method is another one to
steer clear of.
Coconut Oil
Unless you’ve
been living on a remote tropical island with no wifi for the past few years,
you have no doubt read or heard about the many healthful benefits of coconut
oil. Proponents of a practice called “oil pulling” — in which they put a
spoonful of coconut oil in their mouth and swish it for several minutes — say
that it removes toxins from the mouth, promotes a healthy environment in which
bacteria isn’t welcoming, and makes the teeth gleam.
It’s true that
coconut oil has natural antibacterial properties, and there’s also some
evidence that it might help protect your teeth against gingivitis, plaque, and
bad breath, there’s no proof that it actually whitens your teeth.
The verdict? If
you enjoy having a mouthful of oil for 20 minutes each day, then by all means
go for it. But coconut oil pulling is no substitute for brushing and flossing.
Household
Bleach
Believe it or
not, there are people who are so desperate to lighten their teeth a few shades
that they have resorted to using chlorine bleach as a mouthwash, or applied
directly to the teeth. Yes, the same stuff you use to clean and disinfect your
toilet or restore your white towels and sheets to pristine brightness.
“It ought to go
without saying that this is an incredible dangerous process,” warns Dr. Jackie
Schafer, a dentist in Broomfield CO.
“But please don’t use household bleach on your teeth. It can damage your tooth
enamel, harm your gums, and make the rest of your body very sick.”
Your best bet for
getting a gorgeous, white smile? Avoid staining drinks like red wine, cola,
coffee, and black tea. Eat foods that can give your
teeth a little lift in brightness. If you want more of a boost than that, go to
the dentist for a professional teeth whitening treatment. It is safer and will
likely be much more effective than playing Mad Scientist in your bathroom.
