Teeth whitening – what you need to know
Teeth whitening – it’s been around A LONG time.
And when you read this, you might be thinking a couple of hundred years.
Try a few thousand!
– Ancient Egyptians tried whitening their teeth using a paste mixed from ground pumice stone, white vinegar and ground oxen hooves
– The Romans used urine, and the ammonia within it for the same job
– In the 17th century, it was nitric acid’s turn – you’d go to the barber who’d also attempt to whiten your teeth
– And in the 19th century, people turned to chlorine.
It goes without saying that we wouldn’t be recommending any of those techniques!
These days peroxide is the whitening agent used by dentists, and it has a long pedigree – dentists first started using it in 1960s as an antiseptic that helped treat gum problems, and they found that when it came into contact with teeth, it made them whiter.
And while peroxide needs to be used carefully (and by a professional), it remains the number one way to safely whiten your teeth, which is why my eyebrows were raised by an alternative being sold on social media, and advertised on My London recently.
This particular solution is apparently “dentist-approved”, costs £25, and makes teeth ‘8 times brighter’.
The line that piqued my interest? “Dentist-approved”. Whenever I see this, I’m intrigued to see who the dentist is, and if I know them.
So I went digging, asking the company who has approved the product, and what ingredients are in it.
More than a week later, I’m still waiting, which makes me rather doubtful about that dentist they claim has approved it.
And just as worryingly, I’ve discovered that the main ingredient in the product is a type of acid, which could potentially be harmful and lead to permanent damage of the teeth.
As a consumer, it’s really hard to decide on what products to use and also when there are plenty of positive reviews online, they can look very believable.
But there’s a good reason why , legally, teeth whitening should only be carried out by a dental professional – the stakes are too high to get it wrong.
If you’re interested in teeth whitening, there’s every chance we can help you, so please chat to us before investing in a ‘dentist approved’, off-the-shelf solution, which could cause bigger problems down the line.
Ketan
