There are several ways to whiten teeth, but they often cause damage to the enamel, so it is necessary to be careful when using some home remedies, and dentists regularly alert to their danger.

Writer Cecile Teber says, in a report published by the French newspaper "Le Figaro", that there are a large number of teeth whitening products available on the Internet, in shops and pharmacies, while some prefer to adopt home methods of teeth whitening using natural products, which are better and safer?

The specialist in dental surgery, Dr. Christoph Lekar, explained that the external pigmentation of the teeth is caused by the deposits of coffee, tea and tobacco, and all materials that contain tannins, and lead to a change in the color of the teeth.

These deposits can be removed through deep cleaning and polishing of the teeth in the dentist’s office, and Dr. Likar adds that these deposits can be reduced by using an electric toothbrush and whitening toothpastes that contain micro-powdered bicarbonate to avoid the abrasive effect, and it is also recommended to drink a glass of water after eating A drink containing tannins.

Natural Remedies to Avoid

Care must be taken when using some home remedies to whiten teeth, such as lemon juice, charcoal and bicarbonate powder, which are usually promoted on social media, while dentists regularly alert to their danger. Erosion of enamel, and when bicarbonate is added to it, it leads to the thinning of tooth enamel and the appearance of dentin.

The dentist acknowledged that the use of sodium bicarbonate once a month, as a maximum, whitens the teeth, warning against excessive use due to the abrasive effect of the bicarbonate grains that damage the enamel of the teeth. He also cautioned that the carbon “polish” the surface of the teeth and removes protective materials from them and makes enamel restoration impossible.

With age, teeth yellow even if you do not drink coffee or tea and do not smoke, due to the erosion and thinning of the tooth enamel over time and the appearance of dentin, which is a yellow substance.

Until the teeth regain their whiteness, there is only one effective product and that is hydrogen peroxide-based gels.

hydrogen peroxide

In this case, the dentist installs dental arches in order to make custom gutters, then applies a substance containing hydrogen peroxide.

According to Dr. Lekar, "This part penetrates the teeth and breaks down the colored pigments that cover their surface, making the tooth whiter."

After that, the patient completes the rest of the treatment at home, where the gutters must be worn at least 3 hours a day for two weeks, preferably at night.

The specialist in dental surgery pointed out that hydrogen peroxide is effective only on natural teeth, and this means that if one of your teeth is ceramic or has undergone a resin restoration, you have to be careful.

The only possible negative effect of this treatment is temporary hypersensitivity of the teeth, and according to the specialist, "this effect disappears at the end of the treatment."

Note that hydrogen peroxide cannot be used with pregnant women or children under 18 years old, and added, "We cannot whiten the teeth if the patient suffers from gingivitis because hydrogen peroxide may make the matter worse, and if he suffers from tooth decay, it must be treated first because hydrogen peroxide can lead to tooth decay.

With age, teeth yellow even if you do not drink coffee or tea and do not smoke (Getty Images)

Teeth whitening device.. Safe?

Although treatment with a "teeth whitening device" is not risky due to the low concentration of hydrogen peroxide used, it is not an option recommended by professionals.

No matter where or how you do teeth whitening, Dr. Lekar advises that you should see a doctor before whitening your teeth with hydrogen peroxide.

Teeth whitening device lacks efficiency.

In an interview published in 2017, Dr. Anne Le Gough, a specialist in dental surgery at the University Hospital Rennes, explained that "the result provided by the device is not permanent and the whitening effect lasts only for a few hours. On the other hand, the result of the treatment performed by the dentist lasts for several years." "Some patients don't come back for 5 or 10 years after having this operation."

Dr. Lekar notes that hydrogen peroxide-based products are not effective against pigmentation caused by a family of antibiotics called tetracyclines.

It is better to avoid whitening your teeth on your own at home using hydrogen peroxide, especially through products available on the Internet, because the concentration of this substance does not meet the health conditions.

In this case, the person may develop excessive sensitivity in the pulp of the tooth, or get a disappointing result.

Also, gutters sold online are not made to measure, which means the product can overflow and harm your gums.