Jan 24, 2020
Tooth whitening procedures have become more and more popular. There are many popular teeth whitening myths floating around in the ether that are just incorrect. You can go to Yonge & 7 Dental, a dental clinic in Toronto before trying out any type of whitening treatment. Here are the top 5 myths about teeth whitening.
Myth #1 You can whiten your teeth with strawberries and lemons.
While there may be some natural remedies to whiten your smile up a bit, rubbing acidic fruits on your teeth aren’t one of them. In fact, too much acid on the teeth can wear away the enamel on your teeth, so just stick to eating strawberries instead of rubbing them on your teeth.
Myth #2 Teeth will stay white forever after whitened.
The color changes will be permanent, but the teeth will continue to yellow so touch-ups are needed to maintain the whitening.
Myth #3 Crowns, fillings and veneers can be whitened.
The whitening gels used by dentists at Yonge & 7 Dental, and by dentists all around the world, only work on natural teeth. They will have no effect on porcelain, so you’ll need to replace your crowns and fillings if you want them to match your teeth.
Myth #4 UV light is a safe way to whiten your teeth.
There is no evidence that UV light is effective to tooth whitening, and it can actually do damage to your lips, gums, cheeks and even your eyes.
Myth #5 You can whiten your teeth with over the counter whitening toothpaste and whitening gum.
These products may have chemicals in them that are meant to whiten the teeth, but they are very few and very weak. They also need to be in contact with your teeth for at least 20 minutes to make any type of difference.
Many people want their teeth whiter than they currently are, as teeth change color over time due to a number of factors. Some reasons teeth change color include lifestyle choices like smoking, which doesn’t only lead to discoloration but also to disintegration of the teeth. Foods and drinks that can discolor the teeth include cherries, blueberries, beets, red wine, black tea and coffee. If you are curious about teeth whitening, contact Yonge & 7 Dental to book an appointment and have all your questions answered.