Today, a snow-white smile is a sign not only of beauty, but also of the high status of its owner. Unfortunately, dental enamel whitening procedures are not affordable for everyone, and they can only whiten teeth by a couple of tones. If this result does not suit you or there is simply no money for a visit to a professional, you can use one of the recipes for whitening your teeth at home, presented in the article.
Ways of lightening
The safest options for procedures, of course, are dental. When visiting a specialist, you can be sure that all your teeth will remain in perfect order, because the doctor will definitely prepare them for the procedure in accordance with all the rules.
Special equipment is used for this, and whitening is carried out by the following methods:
- chemical;
- mechanical;
- ultrasonic;
- laser;
- photobleaching.
If we take into account the folk ways of whitening teeth at home, then among them we can distinguish traditional,carried out with the help of specialized means, and non-traditional, working for many years thanks to improvised means and food, experience and knowledge of generations.
Causes of darkening of the enamel
Before you choose the best option for teeth whitening at home, you should think about the cause of discoloration. Most often, the enamel darkens due to age, and then all methods will be good, but if the cause is a bad habit, then it must be abandoned to achieve the result, otherwise the effect of any procedure will not last long.
So, the main harm to enamel is the excessive consumption of sweets, which can be characteristic of people at any age. Such foods contain easily digestible carbohydrates, which, decomposing in the oral cavity, provoke the reproduction of harmful organisms that destroy the protective layer of the teeth. This thins the enamel, makes the teeth sensitive and exposes the naturally yellow dentin.
Most often, the technique of teeth whitening at home is of interest to smokers, since the tar contained in tobacco smoke settles on the teeth with a dense yellow coating.
Teeth staining yellow can also be triggered by excessive consumption of coffee or tea, which contain a large amount of natural dyes. If you add smoking to their use, the effect will be very persistent.
In addition to the direct impact on the person’s own he alth, the color of his teeth can also change from external factors, for example,due to air pollution, high content of fluorine in it. The teeth of citizens living in such regions are also yellow. In some cases, the intake of this substance in the body in large quantities can be triggered by malnutrition.
Of course, teeth whitening at home may be required for those who do not belong to any of the categories listed above. Yellowing of the teeth can be caused by congenital underdevelopment or the use of drugs with tetracycline during pregnancy by the mother.
Harm and contraindications of the procedure
So, teeth whitening at home by any means is prohibited:
- to minor children;
- nursing and pregnant women;
- if there is hypersensitivity of the enamel;
- in the presence of caries and open damage to the teeth;
- when taking certain medications;
- with a large number of fillings;
- if there are fillings in the areas visible when smiling, since the means are not capable of separating them;
- if you are allergic to the product used.
In addition, you should know that with each such procedure, the enamel of the teeth becomes thinner and it will be impossible to restore it. This leads to increased tooth sensitivity.
Also, if you abuse bad habits and after bleaching, the yellowness will soon return, and the effect will not live up to expectations.
Oral preparation
Any teeth whitening inat home, it can be safely compared with lightening hair, which means that the procedure does not bring any benefit other than a cosmetic effect. In order to save your teeth as much as possible during lightening, they must be carefully prepared for the upcoming procedure. An experienced dentist will help in this, who, after examination, will give certain recommendations on:
- is the enamel ready for lightening;
- whether there is tooth decay, gum disease, mouth wounds or other diseases;
- yellowness is caused by darkening of the enamel or inner layers of tissues;
- are all fillings in place;
- is there any pathology of the growth of wisdom teeth.
In addition, the specialist will definitely give advice after the procedure to limit the use of tea, coffee and any drinks with dyes. It is also recommended to stop smoking, brush your teeth only with soft-bristled brushes and special whitening pastes.
Specialized products for self-use
High-quality teeth whitening at home without harm to their he alth can be done using special strips. Such a tool is often found on sale and can be used even for sensitive teeth, of course, while the package must be labeled accordingly.
The strips have a special adhesive composition on one side, which is attached to the surface of the teeth for 30 minutes daily for a month. The effect of such a remedy lasts for a couple of months, but it is important to remember that the strips are not able to affect the spaces between the teeth, and for the first time after useincreases their sensitivity.
To completely whiten the entire surface of the tooth, you can use a special gel. Such products can be applied under a mouth guard, work in conjunction with ultraviolet light, or simply dissolve with saliva and do not require rinsing. It is important to remember here that some formulations can be too aggressive on the gums and enamel. The effect of the gels is usually noticeable after a couple of weeks and lasts for a long time.
To maintain the whiteness of teeth, dentists often recommend using a special pencil. As part of such products, the concentration of active substances is low, so it will not work to whiten teeth quickly and efficiently, but it is quite possible to fix the effect.
Cheapest option
Teeth whitening with peroxide at home has been practiced by many citizens for a very long time. This tool is in every home and is used not only for medical purposes, but also as a whitening composition for many surfaces, including teeth. Toothpaste manufacturers also take advantage of the substance's abilities and often add it to whitening pastes and powders.
So, to brighten your own smile by a few tones, you need:
- meticulously brush your teeth with regular toothpaste;
- rinse your mouth with peroxide solution;
- treat the surface of the dentition with a cotton swab dipped in a pure substance;
- rinse the mouth well with clean water, if desired, brush again with paste.
Solution to useit is prepared very simply, it is enough to dilute 15-30 drops of the substance in half a glass of water. You can also dilute peroxide in a 1:2 ratio with water, but after such a rinse, there should not be a clean liquid treatment.
In order not to harm the teeth, it is allowed to use this method for no longer than one week, with daily use 1-2 times. The effect will appear very soon, it is important not to rush things and not to use pure peroxide or the procedure itself more than allowed. In such cases, the substance can provoke a chemical burn of the gums and destroy the enamel.
Among the side effects, there may be an increased sensitivity of the enamel after the procedure and a slight burning sensation immediately after it.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree extract is used in many cosmetic procedures, but not many people know that its abilities are not limited to a positive effect on the skin. 100% oil also helps a lot during teeth whitening at home. Reviews at the same time indicate the safety and effectiveness of the method when used correctly. To do this, you need to diligently brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with 100 ml of water with the addition of 5 drops of oil.
If you want to speed up the result, after cleaning, apply a few drops of the extract directly to the brush and treat the surface of the dentition, then rinse well.
Interestingly, tea tree can even cope with tartar, only with its direct use can the tongue, lips or cheeks become numb. This oil should not be abused for the sake of your own he alth.
Mechanical cleaning
Baking soda or activated charcoal can be used as a safe abrasive for home teeth whitening.
Soda for this can be poured in a small amount directly on the toothpaste during brushing or applied to the cloth and treat the surface of the teeth directly with the substance. For safety, it is worth carrying out the procedure no more than 1 time in 7 days and always monitor the level of tooth sensitivity.
One of the best ways to whiten your teeth at home is to use regular activated charcoal. Before use, the tablet should be crushed into powder and used for brushing teeth, grabbing with a damp toothbrush. If desired, you can add a little toothpaste to the powder for viscosity. You can use this method only a few times a month without harm to your teeth, and the effect will appear no earlier than after 30 days.
Combination of funds
If you want to get the most noticeable effect in a short time, you can combine teeth whitening methods at home. The best at the same time are peroxide and soda, so you should use them together. First you need to mix some baking soda and peroxide to make a mushy mass and use it as a simple toothpaste, then rinse your mouth well.
The effect is visible after the first use, but it is forbidden to carry out the procedure more than 2 times a week.
You can mix for better effect:
- lemon juice and tea tree oil;
- toothpaste, s alt, soda and peroxide;
- hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and lemon juice;
- s alt, baking soda and vinegar (or lemon juice);
- toothpaste, lemon juice and activated charcoal.
All formulations are used to clean teeth and are thoroughly rinsed off afterwards.
Food
The safest and best at-home teeth whitening is done with a regular banana peel. After a delicious treat, the inside of its peel is required to rub the surface of the teeth for several minutes. The resulting roughness should be washed off with plain water. This method does not require additional investments and gives a visible result in a month.
Not very palatable, but an effective way to whiten your teeth is to use regular table s alt. To do this, it should be poured onto gauze, moistened a little with water, folded the cloth and wiped the teeth with it for several minutes daily.
Teeth whitening at home (the most suitable method for everyone) can also be done with the help of lemon, which is rich in beneficial vitamin C and is often used to brighten the skin.
So, you can just wipe your teeth with a slice of lemon, chew it, you can use only the peel of the fruit or its juice for the procedure, adding a few drops to the toothpaste. Interestingly, this option also helps to strengthen the gums, reducing their bleeding, but it should not be used more than once a week.
Reviews
According to the opinions of those who have already experienced the effects of various whitening products, they all give a certain result, but you should always be prepared for negative consequences. It is important to follow the rules for the use of all methods, since if they are not followed, serious dental problems may appear, which will take many months to be treated. Peroxide is very dangerous in this regard, although it can claim the title of the best teeth whitening at home. Reviews indicate that this option often causes burns, thinning of the enamel and a sharp increase in its sensitivity.
A regular banana peel, soda and activated charcoal show good results, but the effect after them with regular use of coloring drinks and smoking lasts only a few days.
Many have been satisfied with the safety and results of home whitening with tea tree oil. Of course, in this case, it is also impossible to abuse the remedy.
It is very important to visit a dentist before any procedure and consult with him about the choice of an effective method, because only a specialist is able to take into account all the features of his client's teeth. Also, if you are concerned about the occurrence of side effects or the presence of high sensitivity of the teeth, it is better to use medical methods, the safety of which is guaranteed by the doctor.
