It’s not surprising that 80% of American adults between the ages of 18 and 49 want whiter teeth. Teeth whitening is a popular requested dental service, and there’s no shortage of teeth whitening product available at your local drugstore.
Unfortunately, our modern society’s whitening obsession has given rise to many do-it-yourself whitening techniques. There are blogs and YouTube videos dedicated to using at-home products to whiten teeth. The problem is not all of them work and some of the can be harmful to our pearly whites.
In your quest for a whiter, brighter smile, here are some myths about how to get perfect white teeth you want to ignore.
Myth #1: You Can Whiten With Fruit
There’s no doubt that many fruits, with their vitamins and nutrients, are good for our overall oral health. However, many fruit that people claim can whiten teeth are acidic. This includes citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, and oranges as well as strawberries and apples.
The acids in these fruit can seriously damage and erode away teeth enamel, particularly if they’re allowed to be in contact with teeth for a long amount of time. Unfortunately, lost teeth enamel can’t grow back. Enjoy them for eating, but don’t apply them to your teeth.
Myth #2: You Can Whiten With Oil
Oil pulling has been touted online as a miracle whitening technique. It involves swishing oil—usually coconut— around the mouth and in between teeth for several minutes at a time before spitting it out.
There’s no evidence that this actually works. It won’t hurt your mouth, but it won’t do much to whiten your teeth.
Myth #3: You Can Whiten With Baking Soda
Although baking soda is a popular ingredient in some toothpaste brands, it’s ineffective at whitening teeth. In fact, it can be a bit too abrasive for tooth enamel when used straight out of the box. If you like its taste and texture, stick to toothpastes that include it, but don’t count on much whitening power from it.
Myth #4: You Can Whiten Dental Work
Some people think that using whitening strips or other products will whiten any dental work including crowns, veneers, and fillings. Unfortunately, teeth whitening products contain ingredients that only work on organic matter, such as our teeth. They have no effect on the man-made materials used to restore teeth.
If you’re seeking drastic whitening and want your dental work to match, you’ll have to consult a dentist. They may suggest replacing some of the dental restorations with lighter colored ones to match your whiter teeth.
How to Get Perfect White Teeth? Visit Your Dentist
If you’re now wondering how to get perfect white teeth, our advice is to visit your dentist. They have professional whitening techniques that can safely whiten your teeth without damaging the gums or enamel. If you have patience, many whitening strips will achieve some whitening when used properly.
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