Like many, you may enjoy a DIY approach to self-care. Improving your life on your own can feel more fulfilling than involving professionals. Still, it’s not wise to pursue do-it-yourself teeth whitening. That method of brightening a smile is risky for teeth. Therefore, you’re better off seeing a dental practice for a whiter grin. In fact, your local Studio City dentist has evidence for this claim. Here’s a primer on the dangers of DIY teeth whitening and why the professional option is better.
DIY Teeth Whiteners & Their Dangers
Unfortunately, DIY teeth whitening products usually aren’t safe. Most tend to be harmful to your oral health. In particular, these dangerous items include:
Over-the-Counter Bleaching Products
Technically, over-the-counter bleaching gel uses the same ingredients dentists do. However, it’s perilous to handle these materials without dentist supervision.
You see, self-supervised teeth bleaching can easily go wrong. The gel could enter a tooth’s nerve chambers, causing severe pain and professional care. Alternatively, the substance could irritate your gums and other mouth tissues.
Hydrogen Peroxide & Baking Soda
Some claim baking soda and hydrogen peroxide whiten teeth. In reality, though, these products should never be applied directly to enamel.
The plain fact is that hydrogen peroxide and baking soda are both abrasive. Should you place them on your teeth directly, they’ll damage your pearly whites and inflame your mouth’s soft tissues.
Charcoal Toothpaste & Powder
Some DIY enthusiasts claim activated charcoal can brighten grins. You’ll thus see people using charcoal toothpaste, charcoal powder, etc. Even so, this line of items does more harm to your mouth than good.
Put simply, activated charcoal raises your risk of enamel abrasion and tooth sensitivity. Given this fact, almost all dentists consider it unsafe to use in dentistry.
Professional Whitening: The Better Choice
Ultimately, you’ll get safer and more effective whitening with a dentist. This professional option makes your teeth whiter without risking their safety.
With dentist-approved teeth whitening, a vetted bleaching gel is applied to your teeth. This substance has no negative health effects on your enamel or gums. Instead, it removes tooth stains from your enamel without causing major side effects. As a result, your smile will look six to eight shades whiter in only an hour!
The dangers of DIY teeth whitening outweigh the possible perks. With that said, talk to your local dental provider about safe ways to whiten your smile.
About the Practice
Dr. Ruiz & Associates is based in Burbank, CA. Led by Dr. Jose-Luiz Ruiz, our practice emphasizes dentistry that makes smiles healthy and truly beautiful. To that end, we focus on preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency dental care. We’re thus equipped to provide everything from standard dental checkups to the very best teeth whitening! For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (818) 558-4332.
