Teeth whitening treatments are hugely popular today. Many people today desire a bright, clean smile. But many are held back by some common myths which suggest that it damages teeth, or it’s a waste of money. They might try one of the many at home treatments to find short-term or unsatisfactory results.
Activated charcoal can whiten teeth
Activated charcoal has been attributed to a wide range of health benefits in recent years. Some believe that it’s even approved by organizations such as the ADA for teeth whitening – but this is a myth. There is currently no scientific evidence that activated charcoal is safe or effective for whitening teeth.
Abrasive scrubs that contain charcoal can even wear away the protective layer around your teeth, revealing the yellow dentin below. This makes your teeth appear yellow – not white.
Oil pulling can whiten your teeth
Oil pulling is reported to be an ancient Ayurvedic practice used extensively for thousands of years. It has risen in fashion throughout the west more recently due in part to beliefs that it can benefit oral health and help to whiten teeth. There is no scientific evidence to back up this claim. Oil pulling can appear to whiten teeth but this can be put down to other factors such as drinking less coffee or tea.
At home kits & professional whitening are the same
There are a lot of consumer products you can buy over the counter to temporarily remove some tooth discoloration. Professional teeth whitening however can be as much as 8 times more effective because it reaches much deeper.
Teeth whitening damages enamel
This doesn’t happen because most cosmetic teeth whitening products use hydrogen peroxide (HO) or carbide peroxide which converts into water while releasing oxygen. This is not likely to damage enamel.
People with crowns/caps or dentures can’t whiten teeth
Though you can’t whiten crowns, dentures or caps they won’t stop you from whitening your other teeth.
One treatment will last a lifetime
Sadly, teeth whitening is never a permanent procedure. Inevitably teeth become discolored over time, caused by tea, coffee or wine, the teeth’s natural aging process. After a professional teeth whitening, your teeth are likely to change over time, and require top-ups. To increase the timeframe between re-whitening you may want to minimize stain causing food and drinks.
For impartial advice on professional teeth whitening in the Berlin, CT area schedule a consultation with one of the dentists at Katz Family Dental Care. Call: (860) 609-6120