I own a teeth-whitening studio – my biggest ‘don’ts’ when brightening your own pearly whites, avoid the trendy gimmicks
IF you want to keep smiling over your smile, you’ll want to follow the advice of one teeth-whitening professional.
An orthodontist has shared her biggest tips for what to avoid when polishing your pearly whites.
LIGHTEN UP
Founder of BOCA Orthodontic and Whitening Studio in St. Louis, Dr. Erin Fraundorf shares how to keep your teeth white without falling into the trap of some harmful trends.
She especially wants to make sure that you don’t waste your time or money when trying to achieve a sparkling smile.
“Don’t choose a style of teeth whitening that you know you won’t do,” she said.
“Don’t ever invest in a bunch of take-home whitening gel if you know you won’t use it.”
Instead, she believes in saving more in the long run by opting for in-office treatments.
LESS IS MORE
Dr. Fraundorf also explained how sometimes less is more – at least when it comes to the teeth brightening process.
“Don’t whiten too much too quickly. Let your teeth have some adjustment time and some time for recovery,” she said.
“Bump up the frequency as you go,” she continued.
To stay clear of health risks, avoid piling on product.
“If you use too much, it can spill onto your gums and cause minor chemical burns,” she said.
“They heal quickly and are often not concerning, but cause significant sensitivity and minor, temporary tissue bleaching.”
NOT BUYING IT
She also points to those trends which are completely pointless.
“Don’t fall for the gimmicks of DIY home whitening kits with LED lights,” she said.
You’ll also want to beware of brushing “too hard” as this can “wear away” gums.
And that means no hard toothbrushes either.
“Always use a soft brush and change it every three months!”
LEAVE IT TO THE PROS
When it comes to your pearly whites, stick to a professional.
“Don’t go to an esthetician, med spa, hair salon, or anyone other than a dental professional for in-office teeth whitening,” she said.
For the most radiant results, she also recommends regular appointments with your dentist.
Keeping up with your oral hygiene is the best way to guarantee that it will be safe to whiten your teeth.
She also stressed that the whitening process is safe as long as you follow your doctor’s “recommended protocols.”
Perhaps her biggest “no-no” is using charcoal toothpaste which she explained causes “more damage to your teeth and gums than anything else.”
“Charcoal toothpastes act by means of mechanical whitening through their use of large abrasive particles,” she said.
“These particles, like sandpaper, are used to roughen the surface to remove stains adhered to the outer surface of your teeth.”
Dentist-approved teeth-whitening tips
Erin Fraundorf, DMD, MSD, owner of BOCA Orthodontic + Whitening Studio in Missouri, shared her top tips for whiter teeth with The U.S. Sun.
Seek whitening treatment from a professional. It’s often stronger and will be the most effective so you don’t waste your money on a product that doesn’t work or may harm you. You also only get one set of teeth, so it’s best not to experiment on them.
Consider the cause of the staining. There are numerous causes for teeth to have a yellow or brown tint. Be sure to get evaluated and diagnosed by a professional to ensure you receive the best treatment for your stains. Not all stains are the same so they may require different treatments.
Consider your lifestyle, smile goals, and budget. When choosing a whitening treatment that is best for you, consider multiple factors when designing a custom plan. Some people like homework to whiten at home, some prefer in-office treatments only, some need to get really bright really fast — for a wedding, for example — whereas others would like a more gentle, gradual, consistent approach to whitening.
Ease into it. Start integrating teeth whitening into your routine gradually to get your teeth accustomed to it and you can closely monitor your level of sensitivity to regulate how frequently you can whiten.
De-sensitize. If you are prone to sensitivity or experience it frequently with teeth whitening, switch to a toothpaste with potassium nitrate. This is a desensitizing agent that will help when used frequently. For more acute pain relief, over-the-counter pain relievers (like ibuprofen or acetaminophen) can help, or get a specific desensitizing gel for post-whitening from your dentist.
Try to prevent. Make tiny changes to your lifestyle in an effort to prevent staining from penetrating your teeth. For example, sip staining beverages through a straw, swish with plain water after drinking anything staining, and pick flat water over sparkling whenever possible.
Mechanically whiten to reduce your chemical whitening. Remove surface stains by physical means daily through the use of a top-of-the-line electric toothbrush (I recommend the Oral-B iO), a water flosser, or a manual floss.
Water floss to help in between the teeth stains. Blast away stubborn stains in between your teeth with a water flosser, because toothbrush bristles can only reach so much of your tooth surface.