4 Myths About Tooth Whitening

Without a doubt, almost all of us probably want whiter teeth. And with so many tooth whitening products on the market nowadays it can seem like an attainable option for anyone. Whilst many products work, there are some myths floating around out there that are not true. As professional dentists, we wanted to address those myths.

1/ Charcoal-based Dental Products Work Wonders

Have you considered using charcoal toothpaste because it may whiten your teeth or seems more natural?

According to the Australian Dental Association (ADA), “These [charcoal-based] products can be abrasive and damaging to the teeth and gums.” They note that many charcoal dental products “do not contain fluoride, a key ingredient in protecting and strengthening the teeth.” And the ADA advises that charcoal dental products use “consumer-attractive terms such as herbal, eco-friendly, natural, organic and pure — however, the health benefits of charcoal-based products remain unproven.”

So, when it comes to charcoal-based dental products you may want to hold off. They haven’t been proven to be effective by the ADA who is our dental governing body in Australia.

2/ Dentist Tooth Whitening is Superior to DIY Products

Whitening your teeth is a chemical process. It uses a specialised bleach called carbamide peroxide. So, whether you have it done in a dental surgery (or shopping centre) it is the same ingredients involved as the DIY kit at home. However, it’s important to note, the strength of the ingredients differs significantly. So, if you want a longer-lasting more consistent whiter look a tooth bleaching from your dentist works best.

3/ Laser or Zoom Whitening Gives You Whiter Teeth

A common myth we hear is laser or Zoom is the most effective.

You might have heard that using a heat lamp, or a laser, will get you whiter teeth… Not true!

In fact, most of the in-office tooth whitening procedures will insist that you must follow up with home bleaching to obtain the best results. Why is that?

Most of the whitening from in-office whitening comes from dry teeth.

That’s right.

If you want your teeth to look whiter, just keep them completely dry for a few hours! Your teeth will desiccate, dry out and look whiter. The effect lasts for a day or two then gets back to normal. That’s why laser seems to work. Yet, the real colour difference comes from the so-called ‘follow-up’ bleaching at home.

4/ You Can’t Whiten Too Much

You might think that if two weeks of at-home whitening is good, four weeks is better. However, this is not always the case. If you have teeth discoloured by antibiotics given to you as a child, or very deep discolouration from metal fillings, extra whitening might work. But, for some people, there’s a real risk that overdoing it will remove most of the natural pigment from their tooth enamel. And this leaves your teeth looking translucent and very grey, not white. Not a good look!

Teeth Sensitivity in Adults

We have found a surprising number of adults experience extreme sensitivity following fast teeth whitening. As experienced dental professionals, the ability to control the amount of whitening through careful application and daily monitoring in your own home, over a few short weeks works much better than any other method. It’s also much, much less expensive!

Custom-made Trays and Advice

Interested in advanced teeth whitening? For expert advice and custom-made whitening trays, look no further than Mossvale Dental in Penrith. We have several options available to whiten your teeth. Plus we can recommend the best toothpaste for your daily use. Call us on 4869 3111 to book your dental and tooth whitening appointment. At Mossvale Dental we have everything you need for beautiful healthy teeth.