TEETH WHITENING DO IT YOURSELF (DIY) WHAT’S BEHIND THE TREND?

WHAT DAMAGES YOUR TEETH?

Berries, curries, tomato sauce, balsamic vinegar, coffee, iced tea, red wine – these are just a few examples of foods that stain our teeth daily. Many of the foods we eat and drink stain our teeth day in and day out. Nowadays, most of us have access to information via social media, bloggers and YouTube regarding DIY teeth whitening techniques. These DIY teeth whitening trends have increased in popularity significantly, but are they really safe?

First, we’d like to emphasize that yes, the DIY teeth whitening trends work, but HOW they work is the main concern! All the DIY trends can be either very acidic and/or abrasive, both of which can remove and damage the enamel. The enamel is the most superficial and resistant layer of the tooth. As you abrade or remove the enamel with the DIY techniques, the inner surface (dentin) of the tooth becomes exposed. Removing enamel and exposing more dentin will ultimately result in a more yellow appearance of the teeth as well as increased sensitivity. Initially, your teeth will appear white but as you continue to use these techniques they will actually appear more yellow with time. Worst of all, once you lose enamel there’s no getting it back!

Let’s see what some of the most popular DIY teeth whitening trends do to your teeth.

ACTIVATED CHARCOAL

It is disastrous to your teeth due to its abrasive nature. Initially, it will remove the most superficial stains. But with continuous use, activated charcoal will remove the enamel and expose the dentin causing your teeth to appear yellow instead of white and in time, will create more sensitivity. 

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Apple cider vinegar is popularly used as a daily cleanse and is praised by people for aiding digestion, helping with weight loss and making hair shinier. Some even use it as a mouthwash, claiming it whitens teeth. While apple cider vinegar is really good for some things when it comes to teeth whitening it is not safe. Apple cider vinegar is very acidic, it will remove superficial stains but because of its acidity it will also remove your enamel. Its daily use or consumption can lead to extensive enamel erosion.

BAKING SODA AND LEMON JUICE

Baking soda is a relatively mild abrasive that has been rated by the ADA (American Dental Association) to be safe when combined with fluoride. When baking soda (abrasive) is mixed with lemon juice (acidic) it becomes too rough for your teeth, this combination can wear away tooth and gum tissue.

Lemon juice is highly acidic, which gives it excellent bleaching abilities. When used for teeth whitening purposes, it not only dissolves stains, but it also dissolves your enamel. So, when you use the two together you have a recipe for disaster!

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

While many teeth whitening products contain hydrogen peroxide, that doesn’t mean you should  swish around in your mouth, especially undiluted. Used regularly, it can cause chemical irritation and damage to your gums and hard tissues.

In conclusion, we can say that using any of these DIY teeth whitening techniques will weaken and damage your tooth enamel. They can also cause swelling of the gums and burns inside the oral cavity. Loss of enamel can cause your teeth to be much more susceptible to decay and sensitivity. And like we said before, once enamel is gone, it’s gone forever.

This is one DIY remedy that should stick to DDIY (Don’t Do It Yourself)! Trust us we’re dentists!