I'm a big DIY'er. I like being independent and fending for myself. I'd like to whiten my teeth. A friend mentioned lemons or even lemon essential oils would be good at that. However, I also believe in checking with those with expertise. Is this a good option for me? If so, how long do I need to rub the lemons on the teeth?
Evelyn
Dear Evelyn,
Teeth Bleaching Trays
I periodically get questions about DIY for teeth whitening. While I'm a huge fan of DIY myself, this is one that I would encourage you to stick with a dentist. Even if you found a method that worked, it would be significantly weaker than what you could get with your dentist. Plus, there are possible complications with your gums and dental work that a dentist would keep an eye on for you.
As for the lemons, that is a bad idea. This mostly has to do with the fact that lemons are a citrus fruit, which means citrus acid. This will damage your tooth enamel. That will not end up having the opposite results. While your teeth may look a little whiter temporarily, once the enamel is damaged, which will happen fairly quickly, your teeth will be more susceptible to stains because there is no real protection there.
In fact, citrus acid is so strong that I recommend if you drink any citrus beverages or sodas that you rinse out your mouth when you are done. Definitely don't brush your teeth without rinsing it out. Otherwise you will end up grinding the acid into your teeth.
Your safest and most effective option is to do teeth whitening with your dentist. He can protect you while providing you with bleaching gel that is significantly stronger than anything you can get either DIY or over-the-counter.
What about the whitening kits in my feed?
Every few months a reader sends me a new kit with a blue light and dramatic before-and-after photos. I have looked at several of them, and they sort into three groups.
Kits with a real whitening ingredient but a bad tray. Several of the well-known "premium home whitening" kits fall here. The gel is a legitimate peroxide, just weaker than professional strength. The problem is the tray. A boil-and-bite tray does not fit your teeth, so gel leaks out onto your gums and saliva leaks in and dilutes what is left. You get gum irritation and slow results.
Kits that promise five minutes a day. The ingredient can be fine, but the concentration is usually low, around 6 percent, compared with the much stronger gel a dentist uses. Five minutes with a weak gel does very little. Worse, some of these use a single tray for both arches that you have to bite down on the whole time, which is hard on your jaw joints.
Kits with no real whitening ingredient at all. Some products lean on a white pigment such as zinc oxide that coats the teeth and washes off. The positive reviews come from people who saw the coating and thought it was whitening.
And the light? The little LED that comes with most kits does not meaningfully speed up whitening. It is there to make the product feel high tech.
Why the tray matters more than the gel
Professional whitening works because of the tray as much as the gel. A tray made from a scan or impression of your teeth holds the gel exactly where it belongs, keeps it off your gums, and keeps saliva out so the gel stays at full strength. Many of our patients sleep in their trays. That is only comfortable, and only safe, when the tray fits.
Choosing between in-office and take-home whitening
If you want the fastest result, in-office whitening gets your teeth as light as they can go in one visit. If you want more control over the final shade, or you are prone to sensitivity, take-home trays with professional gel let you go gradually and stop when you like the color. Both are options at our offices. Read more on our teeth whitening page, or call Ahwatukee at (480) 283-0733 or Chandler at (480) 895-3252.
Click here to learn about Invisalign.
Disclaimer: This article is general information from Dr. Harveer Kaur and is not a substitute for a dental exam, diagnosis, or treatment. Every mouth is different. If you have a concern about your teeth or gums, call our Ahwatukee office at (480) 283-0733 or our Chandler office at (480) 895-3252 and we will help you sort it out.
Dr. Harveer Kaur, DDS, BDS
Dr. Kaur is the founder of Kokopelli Dentistry, serving patients in Ahwatukee and Chandler, Arizona. She focuses on family and cosmetic dentistry.
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