Your smile is one of the first things others notice about you. Who does notwant to sport a bright, white smile? Teeth whitening is a simple waytoimprove your overall appearance and wow others around you. However, do not be fooled by viral videos demonstratingalternative, at-home teeth whitening hacks. Many DIYwhitening methods cause more harm than good.  

DIY videos are great forlearning a new craft or trying out a recipe, but they are not anideal resource for health advice. You should always seek guidance from a qualified professionalbefore attemptinga trendthat may jeopardize your health. DIY dental treatmentsare often dangerous and can cause irreversibledamage.  

Your teeth may encountermultiple staining agents on a daily basis.Coffee, tea, wine, dark soda, tomato-based sauces, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, tobacco use, and vaping can all contribute to discolored teeth. Giving up these foods and habits may feel impossible. Luckily, professional whitening treatments at a dental office can often lift these stains, leaving a beautiful, whitesmile.  

Erosion   

Tooth erosion refers to the destruction of the tooth surface from acid or chemical impact. The tooth surface is coated with enamel, which gives teethstrength and protection. As the layers of enamelerode, many patients start toexperience tooth sensitivity. Not only does the lack of enamel make enjoying hot and cold foods difficult,but italso tends to make theteeth appear more discoloredand increasesa patient’s risk for various dental conditions.Applying apple cider vinegar or acidic fruit to the teeth can cause erosion.Professional whitening methods do not cause erosion and produce significantly better results.  

Abrasion    

 Activated charcoal and baking sodaare popular DIY teeth whitening ingredients. Even if these common household items seem harmless, they are abrasive to theenamel if used too often orin large quantities. Tooth abrasion is when the teeth lose enamel due to contact from an external source. Although many dentists use controlled abrasion techniques to remove surface stains, they are trained to do so in the safest method possible. In a professional setting, controlled abrasion is safe and yields stunning results. Amateurs who do not understand all the nuances of the tooth structure can inflict detrimental damage to their oral healthby attemptingabrasion techniques at home. 

DIY teeth whiteningcanturn into a dangerous cycle. When individuals try these methods and see some results, they may use them repetitively in an attempt to achieve more drastic outcomes.Take-home whitening kits from a dental office and over-the-counter whitening with the ADA seal of approval are safe ways to brighten your smile at home quickly. Schedulea teethwhitening consultation and start smiling brighter!