From
toothpastes to gels, strips, mouth trays,
and rinses, there is a dizzying array of products that claim to lighten,
brighten, and whiten your teeth. And with so many options lining drugstore
shelves, it can be daunting to figure out the right method for you.
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But are at-home
teeth whitening products as effective as they claim? And are they safe? We
asked some experts to find out.
How does teeth whitening work?
Teeth whitening products sold over the counter work in one of two ways,
the experts we spoke with said. They either scrape away stains using
physical force or bleach those stains with the same chemicals used for in-office
whitening procedures.
Physical abrasion:
Products that have any sort of grittiness — whether whitening toothpastes,
regular toothpastes, or just plain baking soda — will act as an abrasive and
physically file away stains that occur on the surfaces of your teeth, said Dr
Dorota Kopycka-Kedzierawski, a dentist at the
University of Rochester Medical Center. Many regular toothpastes contain a little bit of texture for this
reason, and brushing itself is an act of physically scraping off stains and
debris.
Chemical bleaching:
Most whitening strips, gel-filled mouth trays, and rinses work by putting your
teeth in contact with chemical bleaching agents such as carbamide peroxide or
hydrogen peroxide. One major difference between these products and in-office
versions, said Timothy Bromage, a professor of molecular pathobiology at the
NYU College of Dentistry, who specializes in bone and tooth biology, is that
the concentrations of chemicals in over-the-counter products are much lower.
Which products work?
Physical abrasion and chemical bleaching products are both effective at
whitening teeth, said Dr Laura Tam, the dean of dentistry at the University of
Toronto.
When toothpaste is
advertised as “teeth whitening”, it usually means it has more of an abrasive
quality than regular toothpaste, she said, but even regular toothpastes that do
not have any “whitening” claims on their packaging will work.
Chemical bleaching
products can similarly reduce external stains — whether from coffee, tea, red
wine, or cigarettes. They can also be effective at reducing stains that occur
in the inner layer, or dentin, of the teeth, which can develop after blunt
force or traumatic tooth injuries, or in children after taking certain
antibiotics, Kopycka-Kedzierawski said. Pigmented foods and drinks can also
seep into the enamel and stain the insides of teeth. Some people with naturally
very porous enamel are especially prone to this kind of staining.
Teeth whitening products sold over the counter work in one of two ways, the experts we spoke with said. They either scrape away stains using physical force or bleach those stains with the same chemicals used for in-office whitening procedures.
The only trade-off
with at-home chemical bleaching products is that since the concentrations of
chemicals are much lower, they will take longer to work than in-office methods,
Tam said. And not everyone will see whitening effects on their internal teeth
stains.
People’s enamel
will absorb bleaching agents differently, she said, so the efficacy can vary.
And some people just have naturally darker teeth than others, because of their
genetics.
LED light
whitening kits are another popular product. They involve applying a whitening
gel to your teeth and holding a tray in your mouth, or biting into a mouth tray
full of gel, and using a bright light to illuminate the gel. In theory, they
work because LED light can activate the bleaching chemicals to get them to work
faster, Tam said.
Unfortunately, she
added, “the body of evidence does not suggest you can activate the bleaching
agent using anything like light or heat.” Because these products involve
applying bleaching chemicals to your teeth, you might still see whitening
results, but the LED light process is probably not adding much.
Are teeth whitening products safe?
Abrasive teeth whitening products are generally safe, Tam said, but
scrubbing your teeth with particles that are too hard, or brushing with
abrasive material for longer or more often than is recommended, can wear down
the enamel.
This can be
counterproductive to your whitening efforts, Bromage said, since the enamel is
what makes your teeth look white. Dentin, the stuff that makes up the inner
part of the tooth, is a yellow-brown color. If you wear down the white enamel
too much, the color of the dentin starts to show through.
For those looking
for a product that won’t be too harsh, Kopycka-Kedzierawski recommended
choosing one with a seal of acceptance from the American Dental Association,
which means it has been deemed safe and effective.
In general, Tam
said, at-home chemical bleaching treatments are safe and effective when used as
advertised. But it is best to go with products that have lower concentrations
of chemicals and shorter exposure times, she said. Using chemical-based
treatments incorrectly by leaving them on for too long or applying the
chemicals too high so they reach your gums can put you in danger of damaging
your teeth and injuring your gums.
In this vein,
Bromage said, over-the-counter whitening products should not hurt, especially
on first application. Pain is a sign that you are either overdoing it or that
there is something happening that requires your dentist’s attention.
Anything that
claims to be “extra strong” is probably best avoided, Tam said.
The bottom line
Teeth whitening is never a permanent fix, Tam said. At-home results can
last from a few weeks to a few months (In-office whitening procedures can last
for a year or more). And because teeth naturally darken with age, Tam said, you
will see regression no matter which treatment you opt for.
It is also
important to keep in mind that none of these whitening procedures will work on
fillings, crowns, or other dental hardware, Kopycka-Kedzierawski said.
Whitening will lighten your natural teeth, which could create unevenness if
your fillings are darker. In those cases, your dentist can recolor those
mismatches by painting over them with matching shades.
In the end, Kopycka-Kedzierawski said, everybody’s teeth are
different. The natural color of your teeth, the porosity of your enamel and the
sensitivity of your teeth can make you react differently to whitening
treatments. When in doubt, check with your dentist.
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