A beautiful smile attracts attention, but for this, everything about it must be perfect: both the inner positive energy, and flawless, well-groomed teeth. Professional whitening in a dental clinic requires time and money, but fortunately, There are quick express methods that allow you to whiten your teeth at home in just 1 day.
Is bleaching always acceptable?
It is not always possible to whiten your teeth at home using express methods that work in one day. Abrasives, even natural ones, have a rough effect on tooth enamel. If there are microcracks on it, amateur whitening can result in catastrophic destruction of the enamel layer. And if teeth are damaged by caries or have chipped edges, any careless impact can speed up the process of tissue destruction. Therefore, if a person has not passed for a long time preventive examinations at the dentist and is not sure of the integrity of the teeth, it is better for him not to risk using “rough” methods of lightening the enamel.
Infectious and chronic diseases gums, lips, tongue and mucous membranes of the oral cavity are also a direct contraindication to any teeth whitening option, otherwise the inflammation may increase many times over. The list of such diseases includes:
- periodontitis and periodontal disease;
- gingivitis;
- stomatitis;
- herpes;
- measles, ARVI and any other infections manifested by a rash and other focal lesions in the mouth;
- any injuries and microtraumas in the oral cavity.
If you have dentures and fillings on your front teeth, you should not whiten the enamel, since dental materials do not react with lightening components, which is why the contrast between them and whitened teeth will be too noticeable to others.
Before using any bleaching product, you should make sure that there is no allergic or individual reaction to its components. To do this, you need to apply the drug to a small area of skin. inside elbow bend, where the epidermis is most sensitive, and on the mucous membrane of the gums.
Express whitening methods
There are not many methods of teeth whitening at home approved by supporters of conservative medicine. All of them are effective and aggressive to varying degrees.
Baking soda
Baking soda is a powerful cleaning agent that can even remove deposits on kitchen utensils. And for tooth enamel and adjacent gum tissues, this is “heavy artillery.” Therefore, it is permissible to clean enamel at home with soda only in rare and most extreme cases: when the result is needed immediately, and there are no milder cleaners in the house.
To make an effective bleach, you need to add a small amount of baking soda to toothpaste or divorce her plain water to a pulp state. It is not recommended to brush your teeth with this mixture using a brush, since such an effect is doubly harmful to the enamel.
You can apply soda slurry to your teeth with a cotton pad or gauze swab and leave it for a few minutes, then also gently and carefully remove it with cotton wool using strictly vertical movements and rinse your mouth well with warm water. It is advisable not to consume acidic foods within an hour after this procedure.
Activated carbon
Black coal powder can also provide fast whitening teeth. The property of attracting and absorbing various components has made activated carbon not only an indispensable gastrointestinal sorbent, but also an effective dental whitener.
The product is gentler than soda, but this does not mean that it can be used frequently and thoughtlessly. Whitening with activated carbon is unsafe, because when brushing your teeth with an abrasive substance, microscopic cracks and abrasions can form on the enamel, which tend to grow quickly. In addition, the brightening effect of charcoal bleaching, although clearly visible, lasts only 7-10 days, so this method is advisable to use only when urgently needed.
Home cleaning of enamel with charcoal can also be done without using a brush. The carbon tablet must be thoroughly crushed into powder without large grains that could scratch the surface to be cleaned. Then you should dilute the powder with water to obtain a mixture of paste-like consistency, carefully apply it to your teeth, hold for several minutes and rinse thoroughly.
To enhance the effect, crushed coal can be mixed with a small amount of baking soda.
Hydrogen peroxide
If the previous two abrasives act on dirt mechanically, then peroxide provides chemical cleaning of the enamel. The method of quickly whitening teeth using hydrogen peroxide is as close as possible to professional, since the cleansing compositions used in clinics contain the same component. As a result of the chemical reaction, not only the surface enamel is lightened, but also the deeper dental tissues.
To prepare the cleaning composition, a pharmacy 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide is mixed with soda instead of water. The result is a dual-action abrasive: on the one hand, it is extremely effective, but on the other, it is too aggressive for the teeth and everything that surrounds them. Like a mixture of soda and water, this product is applied to the teeth with a soft swab and also carefully removed.
A more gentle option for lightening the tooth surface with peroxide is rinsing the teeth, but for such a procedure it is permissible to use only a 1.5% solution, which will not cause a burn to the gum mucosa.
The big disadvantage of the method is that the chemical reactions caused by the drug occur not only on the surface of the tooth, but also inside the enamel and dentin. Due to frequent bleaching with hydrogen peroxide, dental tissues acquire a porous structure, dull appearance and become more vulnerable to external influences, including staining.
Essential oils
You should not expect quick results when using essential oils, but over the course of several months, their regular use can make your teeth noticeably brighter. Essential oils, unlike previous lightening agents, are good for gums, as they have bactericidal and strengthening properties, relieve inflammation and freshen breath.
Oils are effective for lightening enamel tea tree, grapefruit, lemon and orange. Essential oil tea tree should be dropped directly onto toothbrush, thoroughly treat each tooth with it, leave for 15 minutes and rinse your mouth with regular warm water. Citrus oils are added to the water for rinsing (2-3 drops per glass), and the mouth is rinsed daily before bed.
Fruit acids
Teeth whitening with fruits does not happen quickly, but it is as safe as possible. But only if you follow moderation, because with prolonged and frequent exposure food acids corrode fragile enamel.
What fruits help whiten enamel coating:
- Lemon. You need to rub the darkened teeth with the inner white pulp of the lemon peel, and then rinse your mouth with water. In addition to the peel, you can use lemon juice - as in pure form, and as an additive for diluting soda.
- Strawberry. Apply the crushed strawberry pulp directly to the brush and brush your teeth with your usual movements, after which the mixture is washed off with water. After the procedure it is necessary to mandatory Brush your teeth well with regular toothpaste, preferably one containing fluoride.
- Banana. You should wipe your teeth with the inside of the peel of the tropical fruit for three minutes, and then rinse your mouth with warm water. The procedure can be used up to two times a week.
- Orange and laurel. First, the teeth are treated with the white pulp of orange peel, and then pre-prepared powder from bay leaves is applied to the enamel. Leave it on for five minutes and wash off.
Toothpastes
A good whitening paste will not quickly whiten your teeth, but it can be used to prevent yellowing and darkening of teeth that have already been cleaned of plaque. You can use such products no more than twice a week.
Effective lightening pastes:
- Lacalut White.
- President White Plus.
- Rembrandt "Antitobacco and coffee."
- Lacalut White & Repair.
Consolidation of the result after whitening
You cannot often resort to teeth whitening using folk remedies. Therefore, if you managed to quickly whiten your teeth without visiting a dental clinic, it is better to try to maintain the result.
At least in the first hours, but better than a day After whitening, when the dental tissue is still hypersensitive, you need to protect your teeth from anything that can stain them:
- coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate;
- bright vegetables, fruits and berries;
- drinks and confectionery with dyes;
- spices of rich colors.
For several days after the procedure, it is better to refrain from sour, salty or very sweet foods; the reaction to them can be painful. It is recommended to introduce neutral-tasting foods into the diet, which in addition strengthen dental tissues due to the content of calcium, fluorine, phosphorus and protein:
- chicken fillet;
- milk and dairy products, cheeses;
- White mushrooms;
- Fish and seafood;
- egg white;
- nuts;
- light fruits, vegetables and juices;
- white beans and other legumes;
- porridge from rice, semolina, pearl barley.
Despite the variety of methods for whitening the tooth surface and preventing its darkening, the most in an effective way To preserve the whiteness of teeth, timely and regular visits to the dentist to examine the oral cavity and identify diseases on the initial stages, professional removal of dental plaque and stones.
A snow-white smile is the standard of beauty and attractiveness. Probably every person dreams of healthy, strong, white teeth, but the enamel tends to darken over time under the influence of various external factors. And not everyone has been given beautiful teeth by nature.
Today, dentistry offers many options with which you can whiten enamel. For each case, the whitening method is individually selected based on the condition of the teeth, the client’s preferences and his financial capabilities. The procedure is not cheap and is not available to everyone, so those who want to get a snow-white smile are looking for other ways to improve appearance teeth, which is quite possible to do at home.
Indications for whitening
Before you whiten your teeth, you should weigh the pros and cons and think carefully about whether this is really necessary. In some cases, at-home whitening can bring more harm than good.
Contraindications
Teeth whitening is contraindicated for people with hypersensitivity teeth. You should not whiten your teeth if there are fillings in visible areas, as they will not become whiter and will contrast with the shade of the enamel. Other contraindications include:
- young age;
- reception medicines;
- period breastfeeding, pregnancy;
- caries, oral diseases;
- allergy to hydrogen peroxide.
Whitening in dental office or at home will not bring health benefits, so you need to focus all your efforts on minimization harmful effects by choosing the most suitable option. It is still worth visiting a doctor before the procedure, as he will assess the condition of the tooth enamel from a professional point of view and give the necessary recommendations. Teeth can only be treated with whitening substances if they are strong and hard enough.
Before using a home whitening system, it is necessary to study the condition of the fillings, because over time, microscopic gaps form between them and the base of the teeth, which are ways for aggressive substances to penetrate inside. There are several options for whitening tooth enamel and they all have their own advantages and disadvantages. A person decides for himself how to whiten his teeth.
With their help you can achieve quick cosmetic effect. Special strips coated with an active whitening agent are designed for teeth whitening at home and are one of the most modern options. In addition to regular strips, strips for sensitive teeth. You can purchase the product at a pharmacy or online.
Using the strips is quite simple: they should be applied for half an hour every day, having previously carried out thorough oral hygiene. This method helps lighten teeth by 2-3 shades. The effect is not durable, snow-white smile persists for two months, then the enamel darkens again. More expensive strips can whiten teeth by even 6 shades, and the results can last up to a year. The disadvantage of the procedure is that the whitening does not extend to the spaces between the teeth.
Whitening gels
You can lighten tooth enamel at home using special gels. The substance is applied to the surface of the tooth with help soft brush , hardens, then dissolves gradually, washed off with saliva.
A type of gel whitening is a tray. This is a plastic structure that needs to be placed on the lower or upper row of teeth, filling the free space with an active substance in the form of a gel. The mouthguard ensures tight contact of the product with the surface of the tooth and protects the mucous membrane. It is recommended to whiten tooth enamel at home using a gel based on carbamide peroxide. This method is one of the fastest, as it allows you to get a good result already in a few weeks after use.
Another type of gel is a whitening pencil, in which the concentration of active substances is lower than, for example, in a mouth guard. The pencil is used to maintain the whiteness of tooth enamel rather than to whiten it. With its help, you can temporarily get rid of stains that have formed on the surface of your teeth as a result of smoking or eating food and drinks containing dyes.
Hydrogen peroxide
Effectively remove from enamel dark coating Can using hydrogen peroxide. This method is considered one of the most effective and cheapest. Whitening product can be purchased at any pharmacy kiosk at an affordable price. Before you begin whitening, you should perform thorough oral hygiene. To carry out the procedure, you will need 3% peroxide, which is diluted in warm water and used for rinsing the mouth. Then you need to moisten a cotton swab with undiluted peroxide and wipe all your teeth with it. Finally, oral cavity you need to rinse with water and brush your teeth without using toothpaste.
Enhance whitening effect Ordinary baking soda will help, a teaspoon of which is mixed with peroxide. The result should be a kind of paste. Use the mixture to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth. clean water. Already after the first use the effect is noticeable.
Hydrogen peroxide will help you get quick and lasting results, but you should not carry out the procedure too often or use undiluted product for rinsing. An overdose can negatively affect the condition of the oral cavity, including gum burns and damage to tooth enamel. It is also necessary to ensure that the substance does not get inside. A normal reaction to peroxide is temporary increased tooth sensitivity and burning gums.
Whitening with lemon
Lemons contain a large amount ascorbic acid, without which the normal functioning of bone and connective tissue is impossible. Citrus has long been known for its whitening properties; it often receives positive reviews from people who have struggled with skin pigmentation; it is often used to whiten tooth enamel.
The first, and probably the easiest way is to rubbing teeth with fruit crust. Adding lemon juice to toothpaste will not only help whiten your teeth several shades, but will also prevent bleeding gums. You can get a whitening effect even if you simply chew a piece of citrus. It must be remembered that teeth with increased sensitivity will not be happy about contact with lemon, so in this case it is better to avoid using it.
Other ways to whiten teeth at home
There are other recognized methods to help whiten tooth enamel at home. Their advantage is safety, accessibility and low cost.
When might you need quick teeth whitening at home? For example, if you have an important meeting tomorrow and your teeth look far from perfect. Or you still have a few days left, and then the result will be more effective. In each case, you must be sure that bleaching yourself will not harm you. To clean and whiten tooth enamel (especially fangs) correctly, you need to know a few rules, which we will consider in this article.
When can you whiten your teeth at home?
What is the best way to clean and what bleach will not harm your teeth? The following statements will give you confidence.
- Your teeth are healthy. If you visit the dentist every 6 months, then they are definitely fine. And you can confidently use any of the recipes below on how to quickly whiten your teeth at home so that they become snow-white. If in last time you visited a doctor years... ago, a visit for a consultation would not be amiss. The dentist will better examine your teeth and draw conclusions about their health or the presence of enamel defects and caries. and prescribe treatment, and then gentle whitening. In both situations, any whitening techniques are prohibited for you, since enamel damage and caries will begin to progress sharply, destroying your smile.
- Your oral cavity is healthy. Contraindications include the presence of diseases of the gums, mucous membranes, including ulcers, scratches, cracks, infectious diseases. Do not conduct experiments in the active phase of herpes on the lips and if there is thrush in the corners of the mouth.
- You are not allergic to the main thing active substance facilities. You can check this by applying a small amount of the composition to the skin for a few minutes. The absence of redness and burning is an indicator of a normal reaction of the body.
Folk remedies
Folk remedies will help you quickly whiten your teeth at home. The action of many of them can be considered aggressive, so you should resort to them only occasionally.
Soda
You can add it to toothpaste and brush your teeth with it once a week. You can perform quick whitening with a concentrated soda solution: add a little water to the powder, stir, apply to teeth and rub lightly. Soda performs the function of mechanical cleaning, that is, it removes it from the surface of the teeth. yellow plaque. But its effect is quite harsh, so you should not use a toothbrush for cleaning. This type of whitening can be performed once every 7 days, for example, before an important meeting.
Activated carbon
For people looking to whiten their teeth at home in 1 day, this method can become universal. Its advantage is that it is completely safe for the body, because if soda causes dry mouth, irritation of the gums and is not very pleasant to the taste, then Activated carbon in this regard, absolutely neutral. Its action is similar to soda paste: tablets crushed into powder work like an abrasive. After using activated carbon powder with a small amount of water, the enamel lightens by 1-2 tones. True, it does not last long, the effect disappears after about a week. And brushing with activated carbon leaves scratches on tooth enamel.
Hydrogen peroxide
This is a teeth whitening product that can be done at home in one evening. Moreover, it is recognized official medicine, because almost all compositions for professional whitening Hydrogen peroxide is proposed as the main active ingredient. She runs on the surface of the teeth chemical reaction, releasing oxygen and destroying pigmentation not only on the enamel, but also inside it.
Hydrogen peroxide can be used independently by rinsing the mouth with a 1.5% solution. Or combine with soda: mix a 3% peroxide solution with soda and massage your teeth with this paste using a gauze swab or cotton swab. The effect of such a paste is very noticeable, since cleaning is carried out both mechanically and chemically. But you should use it as little as possible, as it damages the enamel.
Delicious methods - strawberry, lemon
Many fruits contain acids that can discolor tooth enamel. One of the most delicious remedies is strawberries. Mash a few berries into a puree and apply it to your teeth. After a few minutes, rinse with water. It is effective and quite tasty to use lemon zest - the white part should be rubbed on your teeth and also rinsed out your mouth. Some recipes advise adding lemon to hydrogen peroxide to achieve quick results.
Essential oils
The whitening effect will indeed be significant, but damage to the enamel will quickly manifest itself as aching pain.
The healing properties of tea tree oil, grapefruit, orange and lemon are manifested not only in improving gum health. They can lighten the enamel, although they do not act as quickly as we would like. To whiten your teeth at home, you need to dissolve 3 drops of oil in a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth with the mixture before going to bed.
Professional techniques Manufacturers of oral care products offer various means For home whitening . Their peculiarity is that each product must be used in a course, for example, for 7-14 days. They allow you to find a decent and convenient solution to whiten your teeth at home in a week, and maintain the results for 6-12 months. Also in the lines ready funds you can find options even for people with sensitive teeth
and compounds that further strengthen the enamel.
- Common to each means will be: The active ingredient is hydrogen or carbamide peroxide.
- The first is 3 times more effective, but more aggressive to enamel. The second one works more slowly, but when using this product you may not feel any discomfort in the form of increased tooth sensitivity; need for regular use.
- The procedure is performed daily, usually in the morning and evening; simple and clear recommendations that should be followed.
- This concerns the dosage of the drug, the time of its contact with the teeth, and the frequency of use. Otherwise, negative consequences are possible; deterioration of the condition of teeth if there are problems with their health. Professional products
They work quickly and do not spare the enamel if it has cracks or chips. Existing defects will begin to progress very quickly.
- Among the professional solutions for teeth whitening in 5 minutes at home, the following are highlighted. Whitening pastes -
- they contain abrasive substances that perform surface cleaning. provide quick results thanks to chemical lightening. They can be used in combination with a mouthguard or applied directly to the teeth with a brush. The composition forms an active film on the surface of the enamel, which after some time must be washed off with water.
- Set: gel and mouth guard - A specialist will help you choose it. It is also advisable to order the production of mouth guards from a doctor based on an impression of the teeth, so that they are as comfortable to wear as possible and do not allow the gel to leak. Today, sets with standard aligners can be found in the lines of many specialized brands, for example, Smile4You, Opalescence, ExpertWhitening, Colgate Visible White.
- Whitening strips - a product with a gentle effect and long-lasting results. Apply to the upper and lower teeth for 5-30 minutes. They work thanks to a layer of gel on the inner surface in a small volume and concentration active substance. Teeth whiteness after a full course lasts up to 12 months. The duration of the courses depends on the characteristics of the specific product. There are classic remedies for exposure for 30 minutes for 14 days. And options for sensitive teeth with a 5-minute exposure and a course of 4 weeks. Popular brands of strips include Crest 3D White, Bright Light, Dr. White.
- Whitening pencils - are the same gels with a similar principle of action, but in a more compact and aesthetic packaging.
- Rinse aids - can be used as an additional means to maintain teeth whiteness after professional or home cleaning.
Each teeth whitening product from traditional and professional medicine has its own disadvantages and can cause irreparable harm when used. Therefore, you should approach the choice of an individual solution carefully and thoughtfully. The best choice, according to dentists, will still be professional cleaning. medical office. And you can maintain the result obtained with the help of other household products.
Similar materials
Ways to whiten teeth at home without harming the enamel
A snow-white smile is every person's dream.
To achieve this effect, you need to monitor your teeth and care for them with special attention.
Daily brushing of tooth enamel and avoidance of bad habits(alcohol, drinking coffee) are the main helpers in achieving a “Hollywood” smile.
When should you whiten your teeth?
A person should brush their teeth daily and rinse their mouth after eating. The color of his tooth enamel depends on several factors:
- Regular personal hygiene;
- Food and water consumed;
- Genetic inheritance.
Don't forget that coffee, cigarettes and food coloring can stain tooth enamel.
If, after daily brushing of teeth, they do not become whiter, a person can use the whitening procedure. Indications for teeth whitening at home without harm are:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day does not help get rid of yellow tooth enamel;
- The teeth were damaged, as a result of which they lost their white color;
- Toothpaste cannot cope with accumulated plaque;
- Use of medications, especially antibiotics;
- Excess fluoride in the body;
- Smoking and abuse of sweet products.
Teeth whitening is an excellent solution for a person who wants beautiful smile. But not everyone is allowed to carry out such a procedure. Contraindications include:
- High sensitivity of teeth;
- Pregnant and nursing mothers are not recommended to undergo tooth enamel whitening;
- The procedure is contraindicated for children under 16 years of age;
- Persons who have many open carious cavities (fillings on the front teeth, crowns) do not undergo whitening.
The last category of patients is not recommended to brush their teeth at home due to the fact that after whitening the color contrast will be noticeable natural teeth and crowns. The consequence may be the need to completely replace fillings and crowns. If a person decides to have dentures, then there are no risks and it would be advisable to first whiten the teeth.
Is it possible to whiten teeth at home?
There are two types of teeth whitening: professional in the dentist's office and at home. The latter is less harmful to tooth enamel.
At home they are not as strong chemicals, like in dentists' offices. The effective home whitening procedure lasts 5-10 days.
At home, teeth can be whitened using folk remedies, including products available in almost any home.
How to whiten teeth at home using folk remedies?
Some folk remedies can temporarily whiten teeth. Recipes from folk remedies relevant when a visit to the dentist is difficult. To whiten teeth at home:
- Apple cider vinegar;
- Strawberries;
- Ash;
- Soda;
- Hydrogen peroxide;
- Lemon;
- Tea tree oil.
Let's take a closer look at a few effective recipes homemade teeth whitening.
Apple vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is suitable for a variety of purposes at home. One of them is teeth whitening. The taste of this method is unpleasant, but the effectiveness is noticeable.
Mode of application apple cider vinegar for teeth whitening:
- Pour vinegar into a small glass;
- Take one sip into your mouth and rinse it without swallowing;
- Spit and rinse mouth with warm water.
Strawberry
Rubbing strawberries - great way whiten your teeth at home without harm, effectively and quickly.
Recipe for teeth whitening using strawberries:
- Take a berry and cut it into two parts;
- Rub strawberries into the surface of your teeth and leave for 5-10 minutes;
- Then brush your teeth with regular toothpaste.
The number of repetitions of the procedure is twice a week.
Orange peel and bay leaf
The combination of bay leaf and orange peel can also whiten teeth. The duration of the procedure is several minutes.
How to use bay leaf in combination with orange peel:
- The fruit must be peeled;
- Grind a few pieces of peel;
- Rub them into tooth enamel;
- Then grind Bay leaf until it turns into powder and apply to teeth;
- Leave for five minutes;
- Rinse your mouth with warm water.
Repeat the procedure in a week. The effect is that the acid in the orange peel kills bacteria, causing stains, and the bay leaf absorbs those stains.
How to whiten teeth quickly?
You can quickly whiten your teeth at home using:
- Baking soda;
- Hydrogen peroxide;
- Ashes.
The above components are used as independent means. But be careful and maintain proportions so as not to harm tooth enamel. Baking soda and ash are applied to the teeth using a toothbrush. Simply rinse your mouth with peroxide several times a day.
Let's look at several popular recipes for teeth whitening at home quickly.
Sodium bicarbonate is a popular bleaching agent. Whitening is carried out while brushing your teeth with a toothbrush. It must first be dipped in a concentrated liquid containing water and baking soda.
Tip: baking soda can be mixed with toothpaste. Then its taste will be less noticeable.
Hydrogen peroxide
Gels are created based on hydrogen peroxide, which are used by dentists for professional teeth cleaning.
The procedure for teeth whitening using hydrogen peroxide is simple:
- After brushing your teeth (morning and evening), you need to rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide 2-3 times;
- Spit out the contents in your mouth;
- Rinse with clean warm water.
An alternative option is to use a small diameter cotton swab, which is pre-moistened in liquid. It is used to wipe the upper and lower rows of teeth. After performing the procedure, rinse your mouth with warm water in the same way.
The disadvantage of this remedy is that it may cause discomfort in the form of tingling or burning in the mouth area. But the result can be seen quickly - in a week or two your teeth will become much whiter. However, the density of tooth enamel may decrease, which will negatively affect the condition of the teeth in general.
Wood ash contains potassium hydroxide, a compound that is an excellent teeth whitener. How to use: Dip the brush into wood ash and start brushing your teeth. Wood ash can be pre-mixed with toothpaste.
The effectiveness of the mixture lies in microscopic crystals that clean accumulated plaque on the surface of the enamel. Wood ash is not recommended for frequent use due to the possible decrease in enamel density and damage to gums.
A substitute for wood ash is activated carbon. It is sold in tablets at the pharmacy. To whiten teeth using activated carbon, the tablets need to be crushed and applied to a toothbrush along with toothpaste.
When whitening with wood ash, your teeth may temporarily turn black, but this quickly goes away.
Whiten teeth without harming enamel
Excessive use of soda, wood ash and hydrogen peroxide is dangerous for tooth enamel. There are other home remedies that do not harm the surface of the teeth:
- Tea tree oil. Prevents the spread of bacteria in the mouth and teeth. Whitens them well. The product gently acts on tooth enamel. Directions for use: morning and evening after brushing, apply to the surface of the teeth with massage movements;
- Lemon zest. The zest contains fruit acid and oil. These components whiten tooth enamel without destruction. Directions for use: once a day after routine teeth cleaning. Duration of whitening course: one week.
Increased tooth sensitivity? Self-bleaching procedures should be stopped. Pain during temperature changes is a sign of destruction of the protective layer of enamel. Does the pain persist for several days? It is recommended to visit a dentist.
Special products for whitening
Special means for self-whitening teeth are divided into several types:
- Whitening pastes;
- Teeth whitening gels;
- Pencils;
- Whitening strips;
- Whitening trays.
The main advantages of the above tools are accessibility and effectiveness. You don’t need to prepare them at home; you can purchase the option you like and achieve quick results (white teeth).
Whitening pastes
Whitening paste - popular pharmaceutical product necessary to maintain white teeth. Average use time is one month. Be careful: the paste will not be able to radically change the color of the enamel during this time. It needs to be used for several months. But in this case, its use may entail unpleasant consequences in the form of enamel destruction and hypersensitivity due to a decrease in its thickness.
The pastes contain abrasive components. They soften deposits on teeth and eliminate them in the future. But the disadvantage of the paste is that the abrasive has the same effect on the enamel. Over time, it becomes depleted and becomes overly sensitive to temperature changes.
The ideal option is to use such pastes after professional cleaning and whitening at the dentist.
Gels for teeth
Teeth gels in pharmacies are often sold together with mouth guards. They are easy to use and more effective than whitening pastes. In 3-4 procedures of gel with trays, teeth can be lightened by 2-4 shades.
Directions for use: The trays are disinfected, a small layer of gel is applied and placed on the teeth. The gel should not get on the gums, otherwise there is a risk of irritation of the mucous membrane and inflammation. You need to remove it after 30 minutes. More exact time specified in the instructions for a specific type of gel. After the procedure, you must rinse your mouth well.
Whitening strips
Whitening strips sold at any pharmacy. They are easy to use and have an effective whitening effect. Their disadvantage is that the whitening results do not last long.
Teeth whitening strips are used twice a day. After applying them, they are carefully removed, and then the mouth is rinsed with running water. Consult your doctor before using strips.
Whitening Pencil
Pencils for lightening tooth enamel can be purchased at the pharmacy and they have the desired effect. Thanks to them, a person can whiten their teeth by several shades in one course of use. The pencil contains a liquid that is applied to the tooth enamel using a brush.
Depending on the model, there may be liquid inside. Press down on the applicator to release the bleaching liquid.
All the products described above are unsafe for tooth enamel. The use of whitening trays is a completely different matter.
Whitening tray
Whitening trays There are two varieties: unformed and formed. The latter type is a dental device that is placed in boiling water before use, then placed on the teeth and bitten.
As a result, they shape the teeth and are used with a special whitening agent. The unformable option is cheaper and not very effective.
Remember that any teeth whitening product can harm tooth enamel. Therefore, consult your dentist before using it.
Prevention of darkening of tooth enamel
Teeth whitening - great option for people who have unwanted plaque on their teeth. But to prevent tooth enamel from darkening, follow these recommendations:
- Reduce the amount of coffee you consume (maximum 2 cups per day);
- Avoid using medications that contain tetracyclines;
- Get rid of bad habits (alcohol, cigarettes);
- Brushing your teeth should be done 2 times a day: in the morning and before bed (at least 3 minutes);
- Choose the right toothbrush and toothpaste. The brush should be of medium hardness, and the hygiene product should be suitable for the parameters of the water (the amount of fluoride in it and other substances);
- Drink 1.5-2 liters of clean water during the day;
- To remove daily plaque from tooth enamel, eat vegetables and fruits.
To maintain the natural whiteness of your teeth, reduce your consumption of foods containing food dyes. Try to clean your tooth enamel 1-2 times a month using sea salt. These simple recommendations will help you become the owner of a white, radiant smile.
It is possible to whiten teeth at home without harming the enamel. The main thing is to choose the right methods.
A beautiful snow-white smile makes a person more attractive and gives him confidence. Not everyone can afford whitening treatments at the dentist, so you can try whitening your teeth at home as an alternative.
The enamel loses its color due to coloring products that a person consumes daily - tea, coffee and others. Smoking doesn't make it white either. Due to physiological characteristics, the enamel becomes yellow and faded over time. If whitening toothpastes are not delivered desired result, we need to look for other ways.
When teeth whitening, deep layers of enamel are exposed to chemical exposure, which destroys pigments that have been in the enamel for a long time. However, chemical bleaching is carried out with rather aggressive reagents, for example, highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide, phosphoric acid and others. Using such intense whitening products can lead to negative consequences.
Enamel lightening proceeds differently. After this procedure, the color characteristics of the enamel improve only on the surface. The process involves cleaning teeth from soft and, in some cases, hard plaque, which gives the enamel a dark shade without affecting the internal tissues.
If the enamel has a yellowish tint due to its natural properties, it will not be possible to achieve Hollywood whiteness of the enamel using this method. You should not rely on effective whitening with toothpastes or folk ways. In the case of a naturally dark shade of enamel, even chemical bleaching does not always give a dazzling result, and an unhealthy desire to bleach naturally yellow enamel can cause significant harm to it.
Traditional methods
Our grandparents have long known how to whiten their teeth at home. The products they used not only had a positive effect on the color of the enamel, but also disinfected the oral cavity.
Cleansing with baking soda
This is the simplest and most accessible, and therefore a very well-known method that allows you to effectively overcome yellow teeth. To carry out the procedure, you need to moisten the brush with warm water, pour soda on it and simply brush your teeth. There is another way to use baking soda that is suitable for people with sensitive teeth. The paste is first mixed with soda, turning the powder into a soft paste, and only then the enamel is processed.
Oksana Shiyka
Dentist-therapist
Some people mix baking soda with lemon juice for whitening. However, due to the concentration of the composition, it is not recommended to use it more than once a month.
It is necessary to mention the negative aspects of using soda for cleaning. Due to such procedures, the enamel quickly becomes thinner, teeth can become more sensitive and begin to hurt. In addition, weak gums also react negatively to soda, with frequent use powder, they may start to bleed.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is another popular traditional method to whiten teeth at home. For the procedure, you need to moisten a tampon with peroxide and wipe your teeth with it, or rinse your mouth with the prepared solution: take 30–40 drops of peroxide per 100 g of water. After rinsing, be sure to rinse your mouth with water.
This type of bleaching may cause discomfort, especially if the peroxide penetrates the nerve endings. Like soda, hydrogen peroxide increases tooth sensitivity and negatively affects gums. Therefore call traditional methods Bleaching is not completely safe.
Safer ways
Activated carbon
In the past it was quite good way whiten darkened enamel and even slightly reduce tartar. But a few decades ago, food was coarser, and, accordingly, teeth were stronger. Nowadays, people's teeth have become weaker and they don't have to chew solid food, so weak enamel may be seriously damaged after cleaning with charcoal.
Oksana Shiyka
Dentist-therapist
You can use this product after a little preparation. If you grind the coal into a fine powder, it will be more suitable for use. Activated carbon is also found in many whitening toothpastes.
In the video, a famous blogger talks about his experience of teeth whitening with activated carbon:
White clay
The Internet often suggests whitening teeth using white clay. It contains more abrasive than baking soda and is also used in some toothpastes. However, you need to be very careful when using such pastes, and even more so when brushing your teeth directly with the clay itself.
Whitening with fruits
Ordinary apples will help lightly whiten your teeth without harming the enamel. This fruit does not have whitening properties, but it can relieve you of plaque, which gives the enamel a darker shade. Besides, organic acids, which are contained in apples, pull calcium ions from tartar. The stone is destroyed and separated from the enamel, visually they become lighter. So if you dream of a white-toothed smile, eat more apples.
Strawberries and strawberries also have a good effect on color. Mash the berries into a puree and brush your teeth with this paste. After brushing, rinse your mouth well with water, or better yet, brush your teeth with toothpaste. Because, like other berries, strawberries and wild strawberries contain acids, glucose and fructose, which with prolonged exposure do not help, but have a negative effect on the surface of the teeth.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is good at removing plaque from teeth. Place a few drops of this oil on your brush and put toothpaste on top. The course of treatment is one month. Tea tree oil helps remove not only plaque, but also tartar, and also relieves bleeding gums.
Visual methods of whitening
Another completely safe method for whitening your teeth at home. It is suitable only for women and consists of using bright lipstick or lipstick with a plumper effect. The latter not only temporarily enlarges the lips, but also makes the teeth visually whiter, although their actual shade does not change at all.
Women whose smile is far from ideally white should avoid brown, carrot, coral, purple and pink shades of lipstick. These colors will make your smile a shade darker.
Dental methods
Among the widely available professional ways You can highlight whitening strips, pencils and trays. Let's tell you in more detail how to make your teeth whiter at home.
The strips contain hydrogen peroxide and some other auxiliary components. When peroxide interacts with tooth enamel, active oxygen is released, which is a strong oxidizing agent that destroys organic enamel pigments. With frequent use of such strips, the enamel, of course, suffers greatly. Some people notice increased tooth sensitivity after the first procedure. With such a symptom, you should not endure discomfort and continue bleaching; it is better to look for a more suitable method.
The pencil has the same principle of operation as the strips, the only difference is in the application. The gel needs to be spread over the surface of the teeth with a special brush, and then walk around for a while with your lips parted and wait for the composition to dry completely. The whitening effect occurs after a long course, and side effects similar to side effects from using strips can appear quite quickly.
To quickly whiten teeth at home with minimal risk, dentists recommend using special mouth guards, which are made individually according to the customer’s impression. In addition to the mouth guard, the kit includes special gels and instructions for use. In such a product, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide is significantly less than in the solutions you prepared, and many times less than in solutions that are used in dental clinics. Therefore, the risk to tooth enamel will be minimal, however, the result will be visible no earlier than after a week of use.
It doesn’t matter which method of teeth whitening you choose for yourself - a dental chair, folk recipes or home dental procedures - the risk of enamel damage remains quite high. Except for the apple-eating method, of course.
The negative impact of procedures must be properly compensated. To do this, you can buy a toothpaste with a high mineral content and brush your teeth with it after each whitening or lightening procedure. The mineral imbalance after whitening procedures will be restored and the teeth will not lose their health. Whatever method you choose, it is important to visit your dentist regularly and consult with him about the specifics of the procedures you are undergoing.
A few rules
- It is better to drink colored drinks through a straw so that the enamel does not stain.
- Before brushing your teeth, you should use floss to prevent tooth decay.
- You need to brush your teeth for at least 4–5 minutes. Pathogenic microflora can multiply on the gums and tongue, so their hygiene is also required.
- If the water in the region where you live does not contain enough fluoride, it is better to use fluoride toothpastes.
- Eat more cheese - it's a source of calcium. In addition, cheddar cheese is famous for its bleaching properties. Carrots and dairy products also strengthen tooth enamel.
