Teeth Whitening Myths You Shouldn’t Believe
When you see a flashy teeth whitening tip on social media or your friend tells you about the , it’s tempting to immediately believe. However, there are a lot of myths floating around that are not only misleading, but bad for your oral health. This is why our Washington cosmetic dentist offers professional teeth whitening for patients.
Here are 3 common myths about teeth whitening that are better to ignore than believe.
Contrary to Popular Belief, Teeth Whitening Will Not:
1. Severely Damage Your Enamel
This is the biggest false belief about teeth whitening treatments because as numerous studies have shown, the process of teeth whitening does not cause any damage to your natural tooth enamel.
The only situation in which this myth might be true is if you received teeth whitening supplies from an untrusted source online or had the procedure performed outside of a dental office. In both scenarios, the whitening products may not be properly regulated, could contain illegal levels of bleach, and can put your teeth at risk.
When teeth whitening gel is applied, you don't have to worry about the protective outer layer of enamel being stripped away. It is merely being stained a brighter shade of white. Dr. Lesinski will be sure to explain every step of the in-office Zoom teeth whitening procedure so you’re well-briefed on what to expect.
2. Be 100% Safe as a Natural Remedy
We've all heard of the pure and natural that are designed to lighten up your smile in no time. Some solutions are more far-fetched than others and very few have been shown to have a positive effect on the color of your teeth.
Our dentist recommends you be skeptical of the following:
- Rubbing acidic fruits or fruit peels (lemons, oranges, etc.) on your teeth to remove dark stains
- Practicing oil pulling and swishing coconut oil around in your mouth to lift
- Brushing your teeth with a mixture of baking soda and water
- Using any oral care product involving charcoal as a main ingredient
Whereas professional teeth whitening in our Washington dental office is safe for your enamel, natural remedies can often cause damage to that part of your tooth. For instance, if acidic fruits or fruit peels are used deliberately, the enamel will soften and can wear away.
Our cosmetic dentist instead uses safe, but powerful whitening gel to brighten your smile. The gel is also dental-grade and has been proven to efficiently whiten discolored teeth.
3. Make Your Teeth Unnaturally or Comically White
Teeth whitening procedures are not one shade fits all. What one patient wants will be much too bright for another. The nice thing about most treatments is that they are progressive, meaning you can choose to go brighter if you wish.
In the case of our in-office teeth whitening treatment, you are given control over how white you want your teeth to end up. Before getting started, Dr. Lesinski will ask you how light you’d like to go and what is realistically attainable for your smile.
It is important to know that the result of whitening is often predetermined by the original shade of your teeth. If you only have mild discoloration, the final look will not be extreme.
Make an Appointment with Dr. Lesinski
Don’t let teeth whitening myths hold you back from achieving the movie star smile you’ve always wanted. Our cosmetic dentist in Washington, MI, welcomes patients interested in professional teeth whitening and is happy to explain all details about the procedure. Call Washington Family Dental today at (586) 752-4545 to schedule an appointment.