Teeth Whitening - Tips from a Pro
Like most things now - people are after quick speedy solutions. But the fact that people are cutting corners when it comes to health is mad to me. People are so overwhelmed with the busyness of life that if a problem can be solved with a swipe, a touch up, or a click, we go crazy for it. But people, a word from the wise, good things take time! Especially, when we are talking about our health. When it comes to Teeth Whitening, the fast solutions you see often have damaging effects. So, I reckon time is a pretty good trade off if it means safe, effective and long lasting results. Don’t you?
As a dental professional, I feel I need to step in and let you know that the top trending teeth whitening fads may be wasting your money, your time, and giving your teeth more grief.
Activated Charcoal toothpaste
This product definitely had its time on social media, and I hope is becoming less and less favourable. In short, the toothpaste is far too abrasive for our teeth and it does more damage than good. Without going into too much detail, the texture of the charcoal wears down the enamel of your teeth. Without sufficient enamel, your teeth become so sensitive that drinking or eating can become uncomfortable, but this is probably the best case scenario. The risks of getting cavities or chipped, cracked or discoloured teeth are so high with this product, that people are essentially paying to slowly damage their teeth.
Banana Peel Rubbing
DIY Teeth Whitening methods have really taken off and are just the biggest waste of time. We all love a bit of arts and crafts occasionally, it’s good for the soul and takes our mind off of things… but can I suggest taking up jewellery making, or painting, because making a banana peel paste to whiten your teeth is not how you want to spend your hours of leisure. Trust me.
The belief? The small amounts of potassium, calcium, and phosphorus within a banana peel, combined with the citric acid from a lime or lemon, will magically transform your not-so pearly whites, to the pearliest, whitest of teeth in a matter of ten minutes. (We have to give it to people, there are some dedicated minds out there who will do the most to replace the science backed, clinically tested and recommended methods of whitening your teeth).
The reality? Bananas contain a substantial amount of sugar and if left on your teeth, and then brushed after being left there, you are in effect increasing the risks of tooth decay and could see your teeth discolouring in time. The bottom line is, there have been no clinical tests to prove that this method works, but what we do know is that the state of your teeth are far better off being flossed in the time it takes you to make your banana peel concoction.
Teeth Whitening pens
The latest trend to make its way into 2025 has been Teeth Whitening Pens. The idea is that with a few strokes over your teeth with the pen-like brush, your teeth will be a whole new shade of white. The ease of this tool and the compact aspect of it, is admittedly an attractive buying point, but aside from it serving as an aesthetic addition in your bag, this ‘whitening pen’ is nothing short of pointless! So why shouldn’t you buy it?
Ineffective results - the pen only coats the surface of the teeth with a thin layer, and so for effective whitening to take, the enamel would need to be penetrated which happens over a period of time.
Short term impact - the gel simply masks stains instead of actually removing the stain. Even when it is masked, it lasts for a matter of hours.
Uneven coverage - because you’re using a one-sized brush to apply the gel, and let's face it, you’re not a dentist so you’ll be missing certain areas or putting too much on other areas - the end result is going to be pretty patchy and streaky. Not the look you were going for I bet.
Causes gum irritation - probably the worst thing about these pens has got to be the possible burning, redness, or soreness the gel causes on your gums.
Prioritise dental self-care that works
So you want to whiten your teeth, but keep costs low? That’s completely doable. We all enjoy practicing ‘self-care’, and a brush, floss and chill isn’t too dissimilar from a zen face mask…you’ll feel just as good, we promise. The important thing is, you don’t need to waste money or time on trending products to achieve whiter teeth. Prioritize your dental hygiene and you will see real, long lasting results…
Finesse the Cleaning routine: Cleaning our teeth seems like a super simple answer to whiter, brighter teeth. But a lot of us are skimping out when it comes to our oral hygiene routine.
Bare minimum, we need to brush our teeth twice daily. It removes staining and prevents new storms forming. Be intentional about the toothbrush and toothpaste you use - if you don’t have access to an electric toothbrush, look for a soft-bristled head instead.
Flossing is a big player in the oral hygiene A game – it removes food particles and plaque that can’t be reached by your brush, which further prevents staining and decay.
Make sure you schedule regular dental check ups. Your dentist can remove the more stubborn stains during a routine clean that your toothbrush couldn’t get rid of.
Limit daily habits that cause staining:
Our daily coffees and teas are the biggest culprit in causing stains on teeth, so it helps to reduce the intake. The truth hurts okay! Other drinks we need to have in moderation are red wine and dark coloured sodas.
Food wise, a diet containing berries, tomato-based sauces and other dark coloured foods can all leave significant stains. Top tip – after meals it’s worth either chewing sugar-free gum, rinsing your mouth with water, or eating crunchy fruit and vegetables to encourage saliva production which in turn washes away food particles and neutralizes acids.
Finally, smoking and chewing tobacco are major contributors to tooth discoloration. You could take the best care of your teeth, floss religiously and brush your teeth twice daily, but if you are regularly consuming tobacco, your teeth will be significantly affected.
The internet goes MAD for speedy teeth whitening products or DIY tips. The products I see on social media are marketed as affordable and cheap with amazing results, but more often than not, both are a lie. The cost up front, granted, is affordable, but these products only ‘work’ if you keep using them, so by the time you have incorporated one of these fad products into your routine, you could have spent that money on a long-lasting, and safe method recommended by health experts. Not to mention the various side effects on your teeth that you could have easily avoided if you didn’t cut corners and instead, got advice from your local dentist.