Let’s face it: We’ve all wanted whiter teeth at some point, but we don’t know where to start. Viral trends on TikTok tell us to use one teeth whitening method, friends recommend another, and even your dentist tells you yet another method. Along the way, we might pick the wrong choices.
The Smile Team here at Novashine has compiled teeth whitening methods that may be bad for you, and teeth whitening practices that will help you achieve that movie star smile.
Natural Teeth Whitening Methods to Avoid
Teeth whitening is usually focused on improving the enamel of your teeth. It’s important to understand what will harm your enamel before you try the next viral teeth whitening trend.
Baking Soda
Baking soda used to be a decades old teeth whitening hack. Now, teeth whitening toothpastes containing baking soda are easy to find on store shelves. While not inherently harmful, baking soda is a mildly abrasive substance. This means that when you use these products to brush your teeth, your enamel may slowly brush away and your gums may recede due to the friction. While this may scrape away surface stains, brushing too hard with baking soda leaves you more susceptible to cavities and tooth sensitivity in the future.
Lemon Juice
Some DIY-ers have discovered that lemon juice can remove surface level stains from your teeth. It’s appealing to think that this natural hack will whiten your teeth the way you want it, but that’s not always the case. Lemons are highly acidic and while it won't damage your teeth right away, the acid will thin your enamel over time.
Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar
Just like lemon juice, a paste of sea salt and cider vinegar is extremely acidic for your enamel and gums. Also, this combination just does not taste good.
Wood Ash
Whitening your teeth with wood ash not only sounds unpleasant, but it’s also harmful for your teeth. This classic remedy involves brushing your teeth with wood ash from a fireplace or stove. Wood ash contains lye and potassium hydroxide which could aid in whitening, but the ash itself contains lye which is too hard for your teeth and gums.
Best Teeth Whitening Methods
It’s important to understand the causes of tooth stains. While some dullness can be caused by surface level stains, deeper stains in the enamel can also cause your smile to appear less than white.
The Novashine Professional Teeth Whitening Kit
The Novashine Teeth Whitening Kit uses ingredients that penetrate the enamel and lift even the deepest of stains. Hydrogen peroxide acts as the primary teeth whitening agent, potassium nitrate reduces potential tooth sensitivity, and xylitol provides a sweeter taste that benefits your teeth. The kit allows you to apply this mixture directly to the front of your teeth via an LED mouthpiece. Once turned on, the mouthpiece activates the hydrogen peroxide and speeds up the whitening process for shorter, more frequent whitening sessions.
If a whitening kit is not your preferred method of whitening, the Novashine Whitening Toothpaste allows you to make whitening an easy part of your daily hygiene routine.
Dietary tips
Common items in your diet can damage the color of your teeth by staining your enamel, but did you know that your diet can help your whitening efforts?
Pineapple
While acidic fruits can be damaging when used exclusively for teeth whitening, implementing them into your diet is not a bad thing! Your teeth are covered in pellicles (aka salivary proteins) that can absorb pigments from foods. Pineapple in particular, has enzymes that can dissolve the pellicle layer and erase the pigment stored in them.
Dairy Products
Dairy products such as milk and cheese contain calcium and phosphates. This helps bring minerals back to your teeth and helps rebuild enamel to a small extent.
Sugarless Chewing Gum
Chewing sugar-free gum removes extra food particles from your mouth that could otherwise cause cavities while still avoiding causing excess plaque buildup. Try chewing a piece after a meal if you don’t have time to brush!
