Should I whiten my teeth? It is recommended?Let’s find out together

We all want brighter teeth and beautiful and healthy smiles. A whiter and brighter smile will increase your self-confidence and you will certainly become more attractive. But, as other processes, teeth bleaching has its advantages and disadvantages.

First of all you must know that teeth-whitening is not a very complicated procedure. You have two options: in-office-based teeth-bleaching or out-of-office bleaching (your dentist will provide you with a custom-made tray for at-home whitening, with bleaching solution and with precise instructions to be followed). Both options use peroxide-based bleaching agents.

Besides these, there are also some natural ways to whiten your teeth (which do not imply bleaching agents) that you can use.

Which are the reasons our teeth change the color?

Over time, our teeth may become darker. This is because of foods and beverages (red wine, coffee, tea, which contain color pigments), because of the tobacco use. Tobacco causes brown stains that are very difficult to remove.
Tooth darkening can be the result of  usage of some medication. For example antibiotic tetracycline, some antihistamines, blood pressure medications).
Trauma to your teeth may also cause change in color.
Another reason of teeth discoloration can be the age. Over  time, the enamel gets thinner and more of the yellowish dentine reveals.
Before consider teeth whitening as an option, please be aware of the fact that this process does not work on all the teeth. Yellow teeth will bleach well, brown teeth will not be as responsive at bleaching as the yellow teeth, and gray teeth may not bleach at all. Veneers, crowns and filings can’t change their color.
Since professional teeth whitening involves the use of chemicals, lot of people are a little worried. This is why there are some methods you can try at home.

• Oil pulling – it involves swishing oil around in your mouth to remove bacteria, which can turn into plaque and cause your teeth to look yellow. You can use sunflower oil, sesame oil, coconut oil.
• Use baking soda when brushing your teeth. It has natural whitening properties.
• Use apple cider vinegar – dilute it with water and swish it around in your mouth for several minutes. Rinse your mouth with water afterwards.
• Use turmeric.
• Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables (strawberries and pineapple are known to keep your teeth white).
• Limit sugar in your diet, eat calcium-rich foods (calcium may protect your enamel from erosion).
• Daily brushing and flossing, the use of mouthwash, regular cleaning at the dentist prevent the build-up of plaque. Plaque is responsible for a lot of troubles in your mouth.

Side effects

Some people may experience tooth sensitivity. But it is temporary and it may last a few days after bleaching.

Advantages

Your general appearance will be certainly improved. You will smile more and self-confidence will explode.
As you can see, there are a lot of methods you can choose if you want to bleach your teeth and to have a perfect and a brighter smile. Most important is that your daily oral care have to be a must. Brush, floss, use mouthwash and visit your dentist twice a year for regular check-ups. Eat healthy and avoid foods and beverages that can stain your teeth. Call your dentist and make an appointment if you want an in-office-based whitening. Dr. Arhiri is here to help and to give you the best option taking into account your teeth particularities.

References:

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/w/natural-teeth-whitening
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/whiten-your-teeth-at-home#1
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/whiten-teeth-naturally
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/ss/slideshow-10-secrets-to-whiter-teeth
https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/w/whitening
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/teeth-whitening-and-bleaching#1