Are At-Home Teeth Whitening Trends Safe and Effective? Here's What a Cosmetic Dentist Says

Are At-Home Teeth Whitening Trends Safe and Effective? Here's What a Cosmetic Dentist Says
(Photo : Pexels/Miriam Alonso)

With the advent of social media, more and more have become conscious of their looks, including their teeth. Due to this, several teeth-whitening trends have swelled on social media, and one expert has addressed these viral clips.

Teeth Whitening Trend on TikTok

In 2020, about 37 million Americans were using tooth whiteners, according to U.S. census data. Americans spend billions of dollars on at-home teeth-whitening solutions annually. On TikTok, the hashtag #teethwhitening has been used more than 300,000 times.

Cosmetic dentist and social media star Joyce Kahng acknowledged the influence of social media in the rise of searches for teeth whitening. However, she warned that those outlets also fueled the common misconceptions and misinformation about the topic.

Kahng addressed four particularly misleading trends -- using turmeric, coconut oil, charcoal-based products, and hydrogen peroxide as a mouth rinse.

According to her, using natural teeth-whitening solutions like turmeric is incorrect. Turmeric is a popular ingredient for teeth whitening, but there is no scientific evidence to support this claim, and its bright yellow color doesn't help either.

Using coconut oil to whiten teeth is another craze that isn't supported by science, despite the fact that it may make teeth feel cleaner, the expert added. Likewise, charcoal-based solutions are frequently misunderstood to be helpful for tooth whitening. Kahng warned that charcoal can be very harsh on teeth, although it is abrasive and effective at removing surface stains.

Another popular trend is mouthwash made with 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Despite being a whitening agent, hydrogen peroxide is too weak at this dosage to be effective and, if left undiluted, could damage gums.

Kahng stressed that it was important to keep in mind that whitening products should not be administered randomly around the mouth but rather be used in a targeted manner.

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How to Address Colored Teeth

Kahng said there were two types of tooth staining -- intrinsic and extrinsic. Per Kahng, teeth stains on the exterior are known as extrinsic stains, and drinks like tea and coffee typically bring them on. Teeth may seem substantially brighter following dental cleanings because these are frequently removed during these procedures.

The main purpose of teeth-whitening toothpaste is to remove these kinds of surface stains.

"They serve not only to remove stains, but also to prevent new ones from forming," Kahng explained. "However, if extrinsic stains are not addressed promptly, they can penetrate deeper into the teeth, becoming intrinsic stains."

She added that intrinsic stains are ingrained in the tooth and need stronger treatments, such as peroxide-based whitening strips or gels, to break them up. Hence, although teeth-whitening toothpastes may be useful for removing surface stains, they do not change the tooth's natural color.

If you are unclear about which whitening toothpaste to use, it is always advisable to consult your dentist. Some whitening toothpastes might potentially cause tooth damage if they are overly abrasive. This includes some toothpaste with charcoal, which Kahng claimed could be unduly abrasive.

Nonetheless, even more abrasive toothpastes can be used safely within the suggested limits if the right brushing practices are utilized, such as moderate strokes and no undue pressure, she added.