Recently a famous celebrity doctor (whose last name sounds like a land where Dorothy from Kansas found a great and powerful wizard) recommended a simple at-home whitening formula. The recipe? Coat your teeth with a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice before brushing.
Does this really work? Well, it certainly may remove some stains. But unfortunately it can also be a recipe for disaster.
Lemon juice is an acid, so even though fruits are generally healthy, large concentrations of the juice can actually wear away enamel, the hard outer layer of your teeth. Once that erodes, not only are teeth quite unattractive – they are incredibly prone to cavities and difficult to repair.
Baking soda is an abrasive material, kind of like sandpaper. So even though in very small amounts it can polish your teeth nicely, use the wrong amount and you may as well be sanding your teeth away!
Our suggestion? Put the lemon in your tea and use baking soda in the kitchen! When it comes to whitening your teeth, your best bet is to ask a dental professional.
Over-the-counter whitening toothpastes and whitening products from the drug store can do a marginal job on lightly stained teeth, especially for those in their late teens and early twenties. But we find that most people who express the desire for whiter teeth need what only a dental office can offer.
So, what’s the way to get the best whitening system for the whitest teeth?
There are many different teeth whitening treatments available. For those wanting better results than what over-the-counter products offer, we have several different products and procedures. The most basic is a little gel that you can paint on your teeth. This is often used as a touch up for one tooth, or to help maintain teeth after professional whitening. We have another product from Whiter Image which is an inexpensive tray system that you fit yourself and use at home. Better than that is the old standby, the custom made, precise-fitting trays and gel for at home use. The most common form of whitening any more has been the in-office whitening systems, like Zoom!, with a very strong gel that can jump your teeth an average of 8 shades in one 1.5 hour appointment. You can use one system or combine them to customize your treatment and results.
At Dillon Family Dentistry, we will be glad to tell you which one is right for you. Or we may even recommend that you keep your teeth as they are!
As far as that TV doctor – we wish him the best and hope he doesn’t grind his teeth away. When it comes to dental advice, please ask a member of the dental profession!
Please remember that at Dillon Family Dentistry, we are here for you! If you have any questions about this or anything else concerning your dental health, please give us a call at 610-580-2708, or visit our website at www.brynmawrdentalcare.com. We provide family dental services, dental implants as well as other dental services at our Rosemont dental office in Bryn Mawr, PA.
Dillon Family Dentistry
1084 E. Lancaster Ave
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010