At Trillium Dental, we receive a lot of questions from our patients, and we’re happy to offer our expertise to help you understand all aspects of dental health.
There’s one question that always makes us cringe:
“What is the correct procedure I should follow to apply household bleach to whiten my teeth?”
As Dr. Bill Vuillemot explains, he has spoken with some new patients from time to time who have used household bleach for all kinds of things, including oral hygiene. “As a dentist who has practiced for 32 years, I have to strongly advise that household bleach NOT be used in the mouth!” he says.
It is imperative to understand that bleach is a highly toxic, dangerous material. Have you ever been trying to whiten your laundry, and spilled a little bit of bleach on your skin? It burns! The active ingredient in bleach is sodium hypochlorite. It’s extremely caustic and toxic to humans when ingested or when the vapors are inhaled. It has been said that sodium hypochlorite is ideally made to destroy living cells by efficiently corroding them into slush, the results referred to as “liquid necrosis”.
Is trying to whiten your teeth with bleach worth the risk and likely occurrence of destroying those very teeth? Don’t take the chance, and the potential result, of being burned, or poisoned, by using a home remedy of household bleach to make your smile brighter. Bleach is highly corrosive and full of damaging chemicals that are absolutely never meant to be near any person’s skin, eyes, or mouth. Avoid the pain and the resulting irreversible damage by leaving that bleach safely stored in the laundry room where it belongs. Trying to utilize it for home remedies has horrible risks.
What is a good way to whiten your teeth? Luckily, there are many safe alternatives that we highly recommend! They work far better than any home remedy, too! Whitening toothpastes are available over the counter and are a good start to the process. For generic and minor whitening goals, these toothpastes offer easy at-home treatments and visible results with frequent use.
If you’re looking for a faster and more intense whitening process, we recommend our professional bleaching services (not to be confused with Clorox at home, of course!). Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures that can be used to whiten stained and discolored teeth, or simply to enhance a dull smile. We use teeth whitening treatments that are safe and relatively painless. Our dentists will explain the pros and cons of each treatment option available. We’ll work with you to determine the best teeth whitening alternative based on the severity of your staining.
We also have special at-home, advanced, prescription-strength bleach strips for whiter teeth. These are ideal for those patients who prefer treatments on their own time and schedules. Our bleach strips are made of thin, flexible, plastic strips with a light film of hydrogen peroxide bleach on one side. Our whitening strip kits come with these strips for the upper teeth and strips for the lower teeth. Patients use them by applying the strips across their teeth and gently pressing the strips into place to ensure contact with all the teeth. These safe and effective teeth whitening strips are worn for about 30 minutes a day, twice a day. The duration of treatment can vary based on the current color of your teeth and be discussed with our dentists. The ingredients are usually varying concentrations of carbamide or hydrogen peroxide, which are great at bleaching organic stains on and just under the surface of dental enamel. Microscopically, dental enamel is made up of tubules, kind of like a honeycomb matrix, making our treatments ideal choices. There are very effective whitening options offered by dental offices, and some less concentrated (non-prescription) whitening versions that can be purchased over the counter at stores and pharmacies.
When you’re ready to look into the best whitening products for your teeth, talk to your dentist about the options available. Our expertise and years of experience will help you make a positive decision that will optimize your smile, and avoid unnecessary complications. For example, patients should be aware that for many people, bleaching using peroxide products is not a good choice, since in some cases it can cause tooth sensitivity. In that case, for true whitening of the dentition, either porcelain veneers/crowns, or composite bonding may be used. We offer more information about our unique and affordable composite bonding process at SmileBOND.com.
Discuss your oral health goals and find out about your top whitening options by contacting our Lansing dentists today. We are ready to help you achieve your best smile, safely, affordably, and easily! Let’s talk teeth together. Call us at (517) 485-3444 for your initial consultation!
FAQs
As Dr. Bill Vuillemot explains, he has spoken with some new patients from time to time who have used household bleach for all kinds of things, including oral hygiene. “As a dentist who has practiced for 32 years, I have to strongly advise that household bleach NOT be used in the mouth!” he says.
Do dentists use bleach to whiten teeth? ›
You can have it done at a dentist's office, or do it yourself at home. Tooth whitening is most often done using peroxide-based bleaching agents. At-home systems contain from 3% to 20% peroxide (carbamide or hydrogen peroxides). In-office systems contain from 15% to 43% peroxide.
Does putting bleach on your teeth whiten them? ›
Bleach is a corrosive substance. Since your gums and teeth are porous, using bleach on them can result in damage to the living tissues inside your mouth and fail to provide the whitening results you are seeking.
Is whitening your teeth with bleach safe? ›
What are the risks of teeth whitening? No matter what treatment you use, there's a chance your gums will be sensitive to the chemicals used in teeth whitening, particularly if you already have sensitive teeth. There's also a chance of burns to gums and some of the whitening kits used at home can harm tooth enamel.
What do most dentists use for teeth whitening? ›
Carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide are commonly used in whitening interventions and can readily permeate dental hard tissues. Temporary tooth sensitivity and gingival inflammation are the most common adverse effects of vital tooth whitening.
Can yellow teeth become white again? ›
What Can Be Done to Whiten Yellow Teeth? If you're looking for a radical change in the coloring of your teeth, you need professional-grade whitening to get the job done. Your cosmetic dentist can provide treatment that penetrates deep into the enamel and removes years of stains with a powerful bleaching agent.
Does bleach damage tooth enamel? ›
Although sensitivity is experienced due to the removal of the teeth stains, professional teeth whitening does not cause any threat to the enamel. The bleaching agent leaves the enamel in perfect condition while being able to remove deep stains. No. The unregulated use of hydrogen peroxide can cause tissue damage.
What is better, teeth whitening or bleaching? ›
The whitening process restores your teeth to their natural color. Stains and dinginess are removed and though your teeth will look much better than before the process, their natural color will remain the same. The bleaching process will whiten your teeth beyond the natural color.
Can you bleach really yellow teeth? ›
Can yellow teeth be bleached? Yellow teeth can be completely whitened with teeth whitening technologies at the dentist or at home. Depending on the status of your yellow teeth as well as your needs, the doctor will advise and prescribe the appropriate method.
How to whiten teeth in 2 minutes? ›
Just mix a teaspoon of baking powder and a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and brush your teeth with the paste this mixture will work wonders in just two minutes.
Zoom-in-office whitening is the best teeth whitening system out there. It is fast (takes about an hour) and you get great results. This is the one you have probably seen before where the patients are under that blue light and it turns your teeth up to four shades of whiter.
How can I safely bleach my teeth? ›
Whether you used over the counter bleaching strips or visited the dentist for teeth-whitening, whitening toothpaste and mouthwashes are safe to use. Whether individuals use over-the-counter tooth-whitening products or seek care from a dental provider, the effects of either method typically last up to three years.
How to whiten teeth without damaging enamel? ›
Here are a few to consider: Baking Soda: As long as you are careful to brush gently, baking soda can eliminate stains from the surface of your teeth without damaging them. Whitening Strips: Whitening strips mold to the shape of your teeth to whiten them. Whitening strips are both safe and effective.
What is the number 1 recommended teeth whitening? ›
The Crest Whitening Emulsion with LED Light stands out as the best overall teeth whitening product due to its ease of use, effectiveness, and comfort. Its simple, straightforward process, coupled with the ability to carry on with normal activities during treatment, makes it highly convenient and user-friendly.
Does swishing hydrogen peroxide whiten teeth? ›
When used carefully, it can be an effective way to whiten your teeth. But if used incorrectly — in concentrations that are too high or if used too often — it can cause serious and sometimes expensive tooth damage. If you choose to whiten your teeth with hydrogen peroxide, do so cautiously.
Does coconut oil actually whiten teeth? ›
Some claim coconut oil offers benefits like healthier gums, plaque removal, and even whiter teeth. But before you make oil pulling part of your morning routine, it's important to ask, “Does coconut oil really whiten teeth?” It turns out that oil probably won't offer you significant oral benefits.
How long does dentist teeth bleaching last? ›
The results of dental chairside or in-office bleaching are long-lasting but not permanent. With proper care, your brighter smile can last for 1-3 years. A single session may last anywhere between 40 minutes to an hour.
How long does dental bleach last? ›
Because there is such a wide range of whitening options, the average teeth bleaching results can last anywhere from six months to three years. In most cases, however, people tend to have results that last about one year.
What kind of bleach do dentists use? ›
Today, most dentists use hydrogen and carbamide peroxide gels between 10-40%, which are chemically activated or by different light sources, such as halogen light, laser or plasma arc [9], See (Table 1).
How long do you leave dental bleach on teeth? ›
Place the whitening tray(s) in your mouth carefully, making sure that it is seated all the way. Remove any excess gel from the gum tissue with your finger or dry toothbrush. Keep the tray in your mouth for 30-60 minutes. After 30-60 minutes, remove and clean the trays with cold water.
