How bright is your smile? If you can’t call your teeth white by any stretch of the word, you might think about teeth whitening. But is it safe? Well, yes and no.

See, those sticky strips and gel-filled trays for whitening at home have hydrogen peroxide. You don’t have to go to the dentist and spend a small fortune to whiten your smile, however, you might be better off in the long run.

As good as these OTC methods are at brightening your smile and removing stains, that hydrogen peroxide could cause damage to the dentin deep in your teeth. That’s going to cause you a huge problem down the road. Additionally, whitening products could also soften your teeth’s surface.

However, the good news is that more research is needed to fully decide if it is in fact that bad for you. In the meantime, the ADA has said that certain whiteners are both safe and effective. The key to whitening at home if you choose to do it is to take safer steps to get there.

Always choose ADA-approved products

The ADA seal of approval is what you should be looking for on whitening toothpastes as well as any bleaching products. You can buy them with confidence when they’re backed by this association.

Follow whatever instructions are listed

You might want those results fast but guess what? Using those gel strips more than recommended isn’t a good idea at all. Stick to what the instructions say and follow them precisely for your best outcome.

Ask your dentist

Your dentist can help you whiten your teeth but if you’d rather do it from home, your dentist can give you recommendations on what he or she would choose.

Know what bleaching products are capable of

If your teeth have yellowed from aging or they’re stained from your coffee and red wine habits, bleaching products can be very effective. However, if your teeth have brown or gray discoloration, this is a sign of something more severe. You should have your dentist check it out first.

Resolve any oral health issues first

If you were diagnosed with gum disease or you have a cavity, take care of those things first before doing any bleaching. Again, your dentist can help you here so you can have a healthier and whiter smile.

Pay attention to how your teeth feel

Teeth sensitivities can come on with whitening products. These sensitivities may be temporary, however, it will likely be uncomfortable. Reporting this to your dentist can help you find something that may be less irritating to your teeth and gums.

Try to avoid stains to begin with

Keep your teeth as white as possible naturally so you won’t need whitening products so often. Make sure you brush and floss, limit your consumption of staining foods and beverages, have your teeth cleaned regularly, and quit smoking.

If you’d like to see a brighter smile staring back at you in the mirror, make an appointment with your dentist. During your cleaning, you can discuss your options and get that brighter sparkle back!

Looking for a 100% all-natural liquid tooth oil and mouth rinse? Check out OraMD Original Strength and OraMD Extra Strength. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Jennifer Raskin is a freelance writer, wife and mom that loves cold weather despite her location in Florida, cooking, reading, watching ‘80s movies, weight-lifting, and wine tasting.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.