Teeth whitening has become an increasingly popular procedure. It usually stems from people wanting to get rid of tea, wine, and/or smoke-stained teeth. Many people looking to whiten their teeth tend to turn to the internet for information. 

And even though teeth whitening is a safe dental procedure, misconceptions and myths often surround the concept in conversations and online. It can be challenging to determine what information is fake and which remedies work. Today, we’re here to debunk those teeth-whitening myths and help you define fact from fiction: 

Whitening Your Teeth Damages Your Enamel 

Could teeth-whitening treatments do more damage than harm, especially when related to your tooth enamel? The short answer is no. But that is provided that a dental professional does teeth whitening for you. 

Dental experts can help you find the correct type of whitening treatment. 

For example, they may recommend using a whitening product with a high-quality whitening gel to help recolour the dentin while keeping your enamel strong. It’s crucial to consult your dental clinic about this; they will understand which products will promote healthy whitening and which will over-whiten your teeth—a big no-no—it causes increased tooth sensitivity.

Active Charcoal Is the Teeth-Whitening Product 

You may have heard of activated charcoal being a wondrous remedy material for many aspects of personal care. In recent years, it has been added to face masks, shampoos, and tooth-whitening products. And even though activated charcoal may, in fact, help with the removal of tooth surface stains, there is no evidence that the active charcoal will whiten teeth and recolour stains under the tooth’s enamel. 

If you decide to buy charcoal-based whitening toothpaste, it’s a good idea to check if it contains fluoride, as some do not. Traditional toothpastes contain fluoride, an essential ingredient to help strengthen teeth. But some charcoal-based whitening toothpastes don’t, and the lack of fluoride could result in you running the risk of tooth decay. 

Teeth Whitening Will Cause Your Teeth To Become Sensitive 

While whitening treatment is effective and safe when done by a professional, however experiencing sensitivity in your teeth after treatment is common. This is because bleaching your teeth essentially dehydrates them. When dehydrated, teeth become sensitive to heat and cool, as they cannot insulate your nerves as optimally as usual. 

Fortunately, if professional whitening is done, your sensitive teeth should only be temporary. As your whiter teeth rehydrate, you should return to normal within a few days. 

You Can Whiten Veneers, Crowns, and Fillings 

Teeth-whitening products are designed to whiten natural tooth enamel. Unfortunately, veneers, crowns, and fillings are unnatural. This makes them unresponsive to the tooth-whitening process. 

Remember this when getting professional whitening done, as your natural teeth will look brighter than any crowns or veneers you may have, making the set look irregular with uneven colouring. 

But that’s not to say that anyone with a crown, filling, or veneer cannot have teeth whitening done. But before you start whitening treatment, we suggest visiting dental experts for guidance on getting professional whitening that will enhance your smile and still work with any artificial additions you may have. 

Acidic Fruits Whiten Teeth 

This myth is one of the most popular “teeth-whitening tips” on the internet right now. We’re here to tell you that as good as it sounds—please avoid this method. There is no clear evidence that acidic fruits remove tooth stains. In fact, there is a chance they could do more harm to your teeth. The acidity might cut through the protective coating over your teeth, resulting in damaged enamel and a longer recovery process. Best to avoid this myth at all costs.   

It Removes Any and All Surface Stains and Discolouration 

Don’t we wish this one were true? It would be highly convenient if it were. But the reality is that whitening your teeth does remove some discolouration and staining, but there’s a low chance of teeth-whitening methods eliminating all of it. 

This can be due to several factors, including age, teeth health, genetics, and the degree of staining or discolouration. For example, smokers or tea/coffee drinkers may have more severe staining than others. 

UV Light Is a Safe and Efficient Way To Whiten Your Teeth 

There is a perception that UV light is an ideal remedy for many things in life. Unfortunately, UV is not suitable for getting whiter teeth at all. Your teeth being exposed to UV light can be extremely harmful. 

Conclusion

Now that you know fact from fiction, it’s time to take the correct course of action and whiten your teeth the right way—with an expert! 

If you’re considering any of these myths as tooth-whitening methods, we strongly suggest visiting your dentist instead. Fresh Dental experts will gladly help you with teeth whitening in Winnipeg today.