Teeth whitening at home: risks of DIY remedies and safe alternatives

A dazzling white smile has become one of the basics of today’s beauty standards. That’s why teeth whitening is one of the most popular and in-demand cosmetic dental treatments in recent years.

Teeth whitening can be performed at home or in a clinic, but if you opt for doing it yourself at home, you must be aware that not everything goes. It’s important to find out the risks involved in not using the right products, as will be explained in this article, and what to take into account in order to perform safe teeth whitening at home, as well as the best ways to do so.

Before we begin… Are home remedies the same as at-home teeth whitening kits?

The short answer is “no”. The difference between the two is that at-home teeth whitening can be professional, i.e. it can be carried out with instruments and products that are recommended by a dentist and are considered to be safe according to the EU Directive. In contrast, homemade remedies for whitening teeth are usually carried out in a rudimentary way and with products that you can easily find at home, so they are not as effective or safe for oral health.

There are a wide variety of professional at-home treatments that whiten teeth without damaging the enamel, but DIY teeth whitening products and home remedies also exist. We will start by talking about the latter.

Home remedies for whitening teeth: what are they and what different types exist

If you intend to carry out at-home teeth whitening, you should be aware that there are a variety of remedies that are of questionable effectiveness and that can be abrasive to tooth enamel. These homemade DIY remedies for teeth whitening may have many supporters on the internet, but from a professional point of view, are not recommended.

Types of homemade teeth whitening remedies

There are countless theories about how to whiten teeth at home, but among the most common products are those made with baking soda, activated charcoal, lemon, hydrogen peroxide, coconut oil or turmeric.

Below, we will take a look at each of them and, in doing so, debunk some of the myths.

Baking soda for teeth whitening

One of the most popular home remedies for teeth whitening in recent years is baking soda.

As a mild abrasive, baking soda can remove some stains from the outside of the teeth, but it also erodes the enamel that protects them, leading to decay.

Therefore, baking soda can be a remedy for whitening teeth on the surface layers, although its misuse or abuse can damage teeth in the long term.

Activated charcoal for teeth whitening

Activated charcoal is another type of DIY teeth whitening remedy that has become popular in recent years.

Its abrasive properties erode the outermost layers of the teeth, which may make them look whiter momentarily, but the abrasion poses a risk to long-term dental health.

Using activated charcoal for whitening teeth wears away enamel and can cause gum recession and increased tooth sensitivity. Therefore, as the British Dental Association warns, activated charcoal is not a safe home remedy for whitening teeth.

How to whiten teeth with lemon

Lemon peel or lemon juice is also used to whiten teeth at home. Lemon is a very acidic product that can cause erosion of the enamel, so although it is used by some to bleach teeth at home, it can also cause irreparable damage, such as increasing the likelihood of tooth sensitivity and tooth decay.

How to whiten teeth at home with hydrogen peroxide

Another product that is incorrectly used to whiten teeth at home is hydrogen peroxide. It should be noted that hydrogen peroxide is not effective for bleaching teeth, and can also be very harmful to oral health, as it is very aggressive, which can damage the enamel and soft tissues of the mouth, causing burns or irritation.

Using coconut oil to whiten teeth

Rinsing with coconut oil is another increasingly popular way to whiten teeth at home. However, as the British Dental Journal concludes, there is no scientific evidence to prove that it is an effective home remedy for teeth whitening.

Using turmeric to whiten teeth

The last at-home remedy that we are going to discuss is using turmeric to whiten teeth. Although turmeric may help to improve certain aspects of oral health, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, there is no scientific evidence of its whitening effect.

The risks of DIY teeth whitening

As anticipated, DIY remedies for teeth whitening can pose a risk to the oral health of the user, and the whitening effect of most products is questionable.

The most common risks of DIY teeth whitening are:

• Abrasion of the tooth enamel or dentin

• Burns to the gums or oral mucous membranes

• Teeth hypersensitivity

• Staining of the teeth over time

• Erosion of the teeth

How to whiten teeth safely without damaging enamel: professional teeth whitening kits at home that work

Just because we discourage using homemade remedies to whiten teeth does not mean that professional teeth whitening cannot be carried out at home.

There are various teeth whitening kits recommended by dentists that are safe and effective, as well as at-home teeth whitening treatments available in pharmacies and dental clinics. These are some of the best ways to whiten teeth at home, as they allow us to achieve the goal of bleaching teeth without damaging the enamel.

Among the most common professional at-home teeth whitening kits available are those which use splints. A whitening gel is applied to the splints and they are worn for a period of time, set by the dentist. At-home teeth whitening with splints has a more limited effect than in-clinic whitening, but still works. In some cases the treatment with splints is combined with whitening sessions in the clinic to enhance the whitening effect.

How do we know which at-home teeth whitening treatments are recommended?

The first thing to do in order to carry out a professional teeth whitening treatment at home safely is to consult an expert on how to proceed, who will advise which kit is most recommended for your case.

Dentists recommending treatments to safely whiten your teeth at home will take into account that the product has a hydrogen peroxide concentration of less than 6%. This is the maximum indicated in the EU Directive 2011/84/EU for products recommended for whitening teeth at home after a clinical examination.

On the other hand, at-home teeth whitening kits from pharmacies and freely available (without prior professional recommendation) will have a concentration lower than 0.1%, as indicated in the same EU Directive. These professional at-home teeth whitening kits have a lower effect than teeth whitening treatments carried out in a clinic or recommended after a clinical examination, but are equally as safe.

How to safely whiten teeth at home: the Impress solution!

If you want to have a dazzling smile and don't know how to whiten your teeth safely at home, at Impress we have the perfect solution for you. Whether you opt for a professional teeth whitening treatment at home or in a clinic, we offer solutions to carry it out both safely.

If you want a safe, effective treatment with instant results, in-clinic teeth whitening is your best bet. With professional teeth whitening at Impress you will enjoy a whiter smile as soon as you leave the clinic, up to 5 shades lighter in just one session. The smile you have been waiting for can become a reality!

On the other hand, if you prefer to whiten your teeth at home, at Impress you will find whitening foam to bleach your teeth while you align them. The foam we offer has a low concentration and is therefore safe to use, but will not have the same results as professional teeth whitening. The foam is included in your Impress kit, but can also be purchased separately.

To achieve your brightest smile, our professionals are here to help you make your smile shine in just one session. Find your nearest Impress clinic and make an appointment by phone at +44 20 3808 1072 or via WhatsApp.