I’ve been looking for ways to whiten my teeth naturally, not just to save money but also to use healthy ingredients. I keep reading about how the oils and juice from lemons are great for teeth whitening. Before I tried it, I wanted to double check that there wasn’t anything I should be concerned about before I invested in the procedure.
Lance
Dear Lance,
Lemons are useful for many things, but teeth whitening isn’t one of them
I’m glad you wrote. There are a lot of DIY teeth whitening videos and articles going around. Most of them are ineffective. Others are effective but dangerous. Your question falls into the latter category. When it comes to citrus, they’re very effective cleaners. In fact, they’re used in many household cleaners because of their ability to cut through grease.
However, that effectiveness is what makes it dangerous for your teeth. It contains citric acid. This will whiten your teeth but at the expense of your enamel. It will start to eat it away. As it thins, your teeth become more and more susceptible to decay.
The Safest, Natural Way to Whiten Your Teeth
When you’re talking about natural ingredients, we sometimes forget that everything in the universe is made up of chemicals. The ingredient used for professional teeth whitening is a specific peroxide gel. It’s formulated to whiten your teeth safely, without any damage to your enamel.
You’ll find whitening your teeth will take years off your appearance. It’s very effective. One thing to be aware of is any dental work you may have. Whitening gel, even the professional strength used by dentists, will only impact natural tooth structure. For example, if you have dental crowns which are visible when you smile, you will need to have the crown remade after your whitening procedure is over in order to have it made to match your new whiter smile.
This blog is brought to you by Des Moines Dentist Dr. Phelan Thomas.