“Are home remedies for teeth whitenings safe?”
I'd really like to have a teeth whitening, but I just can't afford going to the dentist right now. I want to use some home treatments to whiten my teeth, like oil pulling or baking soda. But are they safe to do?
2 Answers
Yes, those home remedies are safe. They are also absolutely not effective. Crest White Strips are not very expensive and will whiten teeth. The ones sold over the counter are diluted; so they will take longer, but they will work. Even hydrogen peroxide rinse will whiten teeth, but might take decades.
You are not my patient and I do not have radiographs and a clinical impression of what your teeth look like and what your individual oral condition is. I suggest you visit a licensed dentist in your state of residence and have him/her assess your dental health and provide you a dental plan to improve or restore your teeth, gums, and oral structures. This plan should include the dentist's opinions as to how to whiten your teeth. There are many causes for teeth to have less than desired "whiteness" and only a licensed dentist can determine the best way to brighten your smile. I do not recommend any home remedies until a diagnosis of your condition has been made. There are tooth pastes and whiteners on the market, some work better than others, but only on healthy teeth that do not have other causative stains due to genetics, underlying health conditions, tobacco or tea drinking or environmental absorbed toxins, diseases you may have had or medications you might have taken as a child, or excess fluoride or other materials in your drinking water when you were a child. Developmental problems may have caused staining, involving deep stains that have become a part of your tooth structure. It is worth seeing a dentist to find out (or eliminate) other dental problems before attempting to whiten your teeth by yourself Consider any such expense as an investment in your happiness and overall dental health. You wish to keep your teeth for a long time.
