Does Brushing Your Teeth Make Them Whiter?
Many people are continually on the lookout for simple ways to look more attractive. One popular technique is tooth whitening. Good dental hygiene dictates frequent brushing, which can help make your teeth whiter. Teeth whitening through brushing is not the most effective method, but it can yield noticeable results if done properly.
Considerations
Your teeth are naturally some shade of white 1. Their color changes over time because of eating, drinking, smoking and taking certain medications, according to Linda Dyett of the Consumer Guide to Dentistry 3. This happens even if you brush them regularly because the enamel covering them develops small cracks and crevices that trap debris. The underlying dentin, which has a yellowish color, also starts to show through as the enamel wears down and gets transparent due to age, trauma and food acids.
Effects
Baking Soda & Peroxide for a Teeth Whitener
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Brushing your teeth at least twice a day helps keep them white by removing the debris that accumulates from normal eating and drinking. You must brush them effectively to maximize the cleansing effect. Nemours Teens Health, a wellness website, explains you should brush from two to three minutes per session. Brush up from the spot where your teeth erupt from the gum to the top surface. Scrub the chewing surface thoroughly, getting the toothbrush bristles into little crevices. Finish up by brushing the back of your teeth.
- Brushing your teeth at least twice a day helps keep them white by removing the debris that accumulates from normal eating and drinking.
Enhancement
Regular brushing is often not enough to keep teeth their brightest shade of white. Dr. Alan Carr, a prosthodontist with the Mayo Clinic, explains that whitening toothpaste can have a more beneficial effect than regular toothpastes 2. It contains abrasives that polish the teeth and chemicals that attack stains. However, it often takes up to four weeks to achieve a noticeable effect. Whitening toothpaste does not actually change a tooth's color 2. It only removes surface stains.
Alternatives
Toothpaste That Whitens Teeth From Cigarette Smoke & Coffee Stains
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Effective alternatives to whitening toothpaste work through a different process. Whitening strips and gels actually bleach teeth, explains Dyett 2. This type of whitening can be done at home with store-bought products or kits obtained from a dentist. Many dental offices also perform whitening. Their process usually works more quickly than do-it-yourself methods because they use stronger products and may enhance their effectiveness with laser light.
- Effective alternatives to whitening toothpaste work through a different process.
- This type of whitening can be done at home with store-bought products or kits obtained from a dentist.
Warning
Carr warns that whitening toothpastes can harm your tooth enamel if you use it excessively. Protect yourself by using a brand with the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. Don't use it more than twice a day. Use a regular toothpaste for any additional brushing within a 24-hour period.
- Carr warns that whitening toothpastes can harm your tooth enamel if you use it excessively.
Related Articles
References
- Teens Health: Taking Care of Your Teeth
- Mayo Clinic: Does Whitening Toothpaste Actually Whiten Teeth?
- Consumer Guide to Dentistry: Teeth Whitening
- Carey CM. Tooth whitening: what we now know. J Evid Based Dent Pract. 2014;14 Suppl:70–76. doi:10.1016/j.jebdp.2014.02.006
- Bersezio C, Martín J, Angel P, et al. Teeth whitening with 6% hydrogen peroxide and its impact on quality of life: 2 years of follow-up. Odontology. 2019;107(1):118–125. doi:10.1007/s10266-018-0372-3
- Matis BA, Matis JI, Wang Y, Monteiro S, Al-Qunaian TA, Millard R. Labeled vs actual concentration of bleaching agents. Oper Dent. 2013;38(3):334–343. doi:10.2341/11-367-L
- Féliz-Matos L, Hernández LM, Abreu N. Dental Bleaching Techniques; Hydrogen-carbamide Peroxides and Light Sources for Activation, an Update. Mini Review Article. Open Dent J. 2015;8:264–268. Published 2015 Jan 6. doi:10.2174/1874210601408010264
- Kugel G, Ferreira S. The art and science of tooth whitening. J Mass Dent Soc. 2005;53(4):34–37.
- Fiorillo L, Laino L, De Stefano R, et al. Dental Whitening Gels: Strengths and Weaknesses of an Increasingly Used Method. Gels. 2019;5(3):35. Published 2019 Jul 4. doi:10.3390/gels5030035
- Ghalili KM, Khawaled K, Rozen D, Afsahi V. Clinical study of the safety and effectiveness of a novel over-the-counter bleaching tray system. Clin Cosmet Investig Dent. 2014;6:15–19. Published 2014 Feb 21. doi:10.2147/CCIDE.S59292
- Sulieman M. An overview of bleaching techniques: 2. Night Guard Vital Bleaching and non-vital bleaching. Dent Update. 2005;32(1):39-40, 42-4, 46.
- Swift EJ Jr, Heymann HO, Wilder AD Jr, Barker ML, Gerlach RW. Effects of duration of whitening strip treatment on tooth color: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Dent. 2009;37 Suppl 1:e51–e56. doi:10.1016/j.jdent.2009.05.009
- Epple M, Meyer F, Enax J. A Critical Review of Modern Concepts for Teeth Whitening. Dent J (Basel). 2019;7(3):79. Published 2019 Aug 1. doi:10.3390/dj7030079
- Kalliath C, Mukunda A, Pynadath M, Venugopal V, Prethweeraj J. Comparison between the effect of commercially available chemical teeth whitening paste and teeth whitening paste containing ingredients of herbal origin on human enamel. Ayu. 2018;39(2):113–117. doi:10.4103/ayu.AYU_82_18
- "Tooth Whitening Treatments," American Dental Association. 18 September 2007.
Writer Bio
Based in Kissimmee, Fla., Barb Nefer is a freelance writer with over 20 years of experience. She is a mental health counselor, finance coach and travel agency owner. Her work has appeared in such magazines as "The Writer" and "Grit" and she authored the book, "So You Want to Be a Counselor."