A smile expresses your emotions. But if your teeth are yellow, stained or discolored, you may be self-conscious about flashing your grin to the world.
And you’re not alone. More than 37 million Americans used teeth whiteners in 2020.
With an array of new products and at-home remedies to keep those pearly whites top-notch, we turn to dentist Anne Clemons, DMD, for what treatments are safe to try at home.
Can you whiten your teeth at home?
Yes, there are a handful of methods that may make your teeth appear whiter. But Dr. Clemons warns that some treatments come with side effects.
“Most of the effects are temporary,” she says. “You may experience sensitivity or gum irritation.”
Also, it’s important to understand what kind of stains you may have. Most at-home products treat extrinsic stains — discolorations on the outside of your teeth. These types of stains are caused by things like red wine, tea, coffee and smoking.
Intrinsic stains are a result of the tooth itself being discolored, either the enamel or the dentin. Sometimes this can happen due to genetic disorders or medications you may have taken as a child. Age has a lot to do with it as well.
“One thing that happens with aging is that the outer surface of the tooth, the white enamel, becomes thinner and the dentin, which is underneath, is yellow,” says Dr. Clemons.
If you want to whiten your teeth, here are a few popular at-home treatments.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide, which is a natural bleaching agent, can be used to whiten teeth. Bleaching is a chemical process that uses the oxidative chemical to break down color-causing molecules and change or remove those bonds. You may experience tooth sensitivity and gum inflammation.
“Bleaching is really more specific to changing the perception of whiteness within the tooth,” says Dr. Clemons. “Bleaching is really what will change those intrinsic stains.”
Hydrogen peroxide is typically safe to use when it’s found in products like mouthwash and toothpaste, but pay attention to how much is used.
“Concentrations can vary a lot,” says Dr. Clemons. “Look for something that’s formulated specifically for dental use because you’re going to have a more controlled percentage of it.”
Rather than using pure hydrogen peroxide at home (which isn’t recommended), Clemons says using a gel or whitening strips will give you safe and effective results. Just be sure to follow directions and don’t use longer than indicated.
“What gives you a good outcome is how much contact time the peroxide has with the tooth,” she says. “Something like a gel or a strip that’s held on the tooth for a longer period of time will have better results than toothpaste or mouthwash.”
Baking soda
The faithful pantry ingredient has many uses, including whitening teeth. But again, Dr. Clemons suggests looking for dental products that contain baking soda.
“What’s nice about baking soda is that it’s actually less abrasive than a lot of other ingredients,” she says. “If you compa
