Go Easy with Teeth Whitening Home Remedies

Dentists say people are overdoing it with teeth whitening home remedies. Ignore the TV ads; here’s how you should use the products safely and as directed.

You may have wondered if teeth whitening home remedies are safe after wandering through the dizzying variety of bleaching products that line drugstore shelves.

If your teeth feel a little more sensitive after using those ubiquitous little whitening strips or mouth trays, you’re not alone. One study found that more than half of people reported mild sensitivity for up to a month after whitening with several types of drugstore bleaching products. Problems disappeared within four weeks — but 4 percent reported severe sensitivity for as long as two weeks. Those with receding gums (gingivitis) were at most risk.

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Are teeth whitening products safe?

Dentists say bleaching your teeth isn’t harmful when you use the products as recommended. But many people go overboard — and ads suggesting whitening products can be used safely every time you have a big night out don’t help matters. Relentless advertising, along with social pressure and unclear guidelines, can combine to encourage overuse.

Dentists are reporting complaints from patients who are overdoing it, leading to increased pain and sensitivity. Some suggest whitening can become an unhealthy preoccupation.

Whitening also won’t damage tooth enamel, most experts say, but it will likely weaken it, at least temporarily. In one study, four common bleaching products reduced enamel hardness by 1 to 2 nanometers and diminished surface elasticity by 6 to 19 percent. A tray method tested in the study affected hardness significantly more than a strip-whitening product.

What you can do

If you’re using teeth whitening home remedies, take it easy. Follow product recommendations, and don’t whiten more than once a year. A few more tips:

• If you use a home product, watch for ill-fitting trays, and be sure the gel doesn’t touch anything but your teeth. Carbamide peroxide, the lightening ingredient found in most products — and the one used in all office treatments — can irritate oral tissue, particularly at high concentrations (over 10 to 15 percent).
• The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends always consulting with a dentist before whitening, as permanent damage has been reported in very rare cases. Be especially sure to check in with your dentist if you have a single darkened tooth, which could be a sign of conditions such as an abscessed tooth, decay, or leaking restorations. In the rare case a tooth has a crack, cavity, or other damage, the peroxide used in whitening could enter the tooth itself. That’s when you could be in for a world of pain and might even end up needing a root canal.
• Buy major brands. Whiteners aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Many products sold online may not contain what the manufacturers say they do. Never use anything acidic, which (like sodas and wine) will eat away at enamel. Stick to peroxide formulas to whiten safely and effectively.

There are also a few ways to cut down on sensitivity and remineralize teeth after a strong whitening treatment. Dentists suggest using a toothpaste that contains potassium nitrate (such as Sensodyne) for a couple of weeks before and after whitening.

You can also double up on fluoride. Look for toothpastes that contain stannous fluoride and sodium fluoride. Add a fluoride mouthwash — check the labels at drugstores to find one — or ask your dentist for a fluoride treatment in conjunction with an in-office whitening procedure.

Your dentist might use potassium nitrate in a try for whitening. Potassium nitrate and fluoride are about equally effective at reducing sensitivity, and both will help restore enamel.

If you’d like something gentle, try a basic whitening toothpaste — but make sure the ingredient list contains peroxide. Anything else, no matter what the product label claims, will only provide a mechanical polishing, which you could get from virtually any product.

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