IF you want to keep smiling beyond the look of your smile, avoid some teeth whitening mistakes.
An orthodontist who owns a teeth whitening studio shared her best tips for keeping your pearly whites shiny, including what to avoid.
LIGHTEN UP
Dr. Erin FraundorfThe founder of BOCA Orthodontic and Whitening Studio in Missouri shared her biggest don’ts when it comes to keeping your teeth pearly white.
He especially wants to make sure you don’t waste your time or money when trying to achieve a sparkling smile.
“Don’t choose a teeth whitening style that you know you won’t do,” she told US Sun.
“Never invest in a bunch of take-home whitening gel if you know you won’t use it.”
Instead, he thinks he’ll save more in the long run by opting for in-office treatments.
LESS IS MORE
Dr. Fraunddorf explained how sometimes less is more — at least when it comes to teeth whitening.
“Don’t whiten too fast. Let your teeth have some time to adjust and some time to recover,” she said.
“Increase the frequency as you go,” he continued.
To stay away from health hazards, avoid product build-up.
“If you use too much, it can spill onto your gums and cause small chemical burns,” she said.
“They heal quickly and are often not worrisome, but cause significant tenderness and minor, temporary tissue bleaching.”
YOU DON’T BUY IT
He also pointed out trends that are completely pointless.
“Don’t fall for the gimmicks of DIY home whitening kits with LED lights,” he warned.
You’ll also want to be careful about brushing “too hard” as this can “wear down” the gums.
And that means no hard toothbrushes either.
“Always use a soft brush and change it every three months,” she advises.
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LEAVE IT TO THE PROFESSIONALS
When it comes to your pearly whites, stick to a professional.
“Don’t go to a beauty salon, medical spa, hair salon, or anyone other than a dental professional for in-office teeth whitening,” she said.
For the brightest 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 procedure 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 work through mechanical whitening through the use of large abrasive particles,” he said.
“These particles, like sandpaper, are used to roughen the surface to remove stains that have adhered to the outer surface of your teeth.”
Dr. Fraundorf previously told US Sun about her favorite at-home tool for whiter teeth.
Dentist-approved teeth whitening tips
Erin Fraundorf, DMD, MSDits owner BOCA Orthodontic + Whitening Studio in Missouri, shared her top tips for whiter teeth with US Sun.
Seek whitening treatment from a professional. It is often more powerful and will be the most effective, so you don’t waste your money on a product that doesn’t work or can harm you. Also, you only get one set of teeth, so it’s best not to experiment with them.
Examine the cause of the staining. There are many causes for teeth to have a yellow or brown tint. Be sure to get an evaluation and diagnosis from a professional to ensure you get 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 many factors when designing a custom plan. Some people like working to whiten at home, some prefer only in-office treatments, some need to go really bright for say a wedding, while others would like a gentler, gradual, consistent approach to whitening.
Ease into it. Start incorporating teeth whitening into your routine gradually to get your teeth used to it and you can closely monitor your sensitivity level to adjust how often you can whiten.
Desensitize. If you are prone to sensitivity or experience frequent teeth whitening, switch to a potassium nitrate toothpaste. This is a desensitizing agent that will help when used frequently. For more acute pain relief, over-the-counter pain relievers (such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen) can help, or you can get a special post-whitening numbing gel from your dentist.
Try to prevent. Make small changes to your lifestyle in an effort to prevent stains from penetrating your teeth. For example, sip soiling drinks through a straw, rinse with plain water after drinking anything soiling, and choose plain water over sparkling whenever possible.
Bleach mechanically to reduce your chemical bleaching. Remove surface stains with natural means daily using a top-of-the-line electric toothbrush (I recommend Oral-B iO), a water thread or a hand thread.
Water floss to help discover stains between teeth. Remove stubborn stains between your teeth with a water flosser because toothbrush bristles can only reach so much of the surface of your teeth.
