How to safely whiten your teeth at the dentist or at home

Julia looked at herself... and decided that she was not beautiful enough. I started to correct the situation with my teeth.

During quarantine, we did live broadcasts with different cool speakers - and I got involved. I loved this format.

But - surprise - because of these broadcasts I encountered new old problems. Again, I didn’t like the way I looked :) In this case, I looked on camera. I reviewed my “film” wardrobe (if you’re in black or white, the camera is “off-putting”, you need something neutral), I reviewed my makeup (my skin is too light, and the camera “offsets” again), now I’m making my face tone warmer, highlighting eyes more intense) and found points in the apartment where the lighting makes me happy.

But there was a problem that you couldn’t fix on your own. For example, yellowish teeth -).

I decided to take this very problem to dentist Gleb Pekli at his clinic Insmile Dental Lounge, which we have already written about and who is a doc, a pro and a specialist in this matter. At the end of June I went for a consultation. It wasn’t scary - it seems like I already know everything about whitening, I did it seven years ago. Well, almost not scary :)

This is what the teeth looked like when I showed Gleb:

Teeth before whitening

It seems not critical, but I remember how much I liked the color of my teeth seven years ago, just after that Philips Zoom whitening. I wanted to return that feeling.

General picture "before":

At the consultation, Gleb told me that I have a gray-yellow type of enamel. (There are three of them in total - white, a very rare white-blue and gray-yellow. Gray-yellow is characteristic of approximately 70% of the inhabitants of Russia). With this type, whitening with Philips Zoom alone will not be enough. To make your teeth as white as possible, after the procedure you need to use the Opalescenes home system. It is, of course, not as powerful as Zoom, but it works gradually, day after day.

Teeth whitening: a brief educational program

Teeth whitening methods

Whitening methods can be divided into two types:

1. Professional whitening - you need to go to the dental clinic for it. This includes photo bleaching, chemical bleaching, ultrasound, and laser. These methods require medical knowledge, skills and special equipment. These are usually quite expensive procedures, but at the same time the safest and most effective. We would recommend them.
2. Home whitening. This includes both traditional methods and special modern means. We won’t talk about grandma’s methods like lemon peels and activated carbon, but we will dwell on various types of special equipment in more detail. These include:

• whitening toothpastes and powders . The very first and most common, but not the most effective option. Typically, these toothpastes and tooth powders act as abrasives, removing a thin layer of enamel along with plaque. In addition, there are very effective enzymatic and chemical whitening toothpastes. This method really helps to lighten your teeth, but it can seriously harm your health, so buy only good toothpastes and use them for no longer than a month;
• Mouth rinses are a good addition to toothpaste and generally a good thing for oral hygiene. The effectiveness of whitening, of course, is unlikely to amaze you, but mouth rinses act gently, fight germs, freshen breath, and maintain normal acid-base balance and humidity in the mouth;
• erasers for teeth are ordinary polyester erasers, only they need to be used to erase not pencil marks from paper, but stains from teeth. Quite a strange invention of a Chinese genius. Of course, an eraser will not help whiten your teeth for a long time, but it will remove the effects of drinking coffee or red wine;
• whitening varnishes - they do not so much change the tone of tooth enamel as simply paint over it. This is a quick, short-term method used when there is no time for thorough whitening. The varnish is erased, for example, by food, but it will still last one evening, so it can be used before an interview, a reunion or other important event;
• gels are not as effective as chemical whitening in the dentist’s office due to the lower concentration of the active substance, but they are cheaper, are not as dangerous if used incorrectly, and can be used at home. The gel is applied to the teeth using a brush: this must be done carefully, because if it gets on the mucous membrane it can cause serious irritation. Typically the course takes about two weeks. The most convenient format for producing gels is pencils. They are small, convenient, you can take them with you on a trip and use them on the road;
• Mouth guards are not so much an independent product as a way to enhance the effectiveness of the whitening gel. The trays are placed on the teeth before bed for an hour or two or even throughout the night. They can be either standard sizes - the main thing here is not to miss - or thermoplastic, that is, capable of taking the shape of your teeth after heating;
• strips - they are glued to the teeth using fixing compounds, and the agent with which the strips are impregnated is responsible for whitening. Just like mouth guards, the strips are usually applied before bedtime. Their advantage is that you can do household chores and not be distracted by the whitening procedure, which happens as if by itself. Quite effective, safe and inexpensive method.

Contraindications to teeth whitening

Since bleaching somehow affects the enamel, before using any product, pay attention to contraindications. General contraindications to teeth whitening include:

• children's age (up to 16 years);
• pregnancy, breastfeeding;
• any diseases of teeth and gums;
• increased sensitivity of teeth;
• enamel damage: chips, cracks, caries;
• allergy to the active substances of whitening products: hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide;
• anomalies in the eruption of wisdom teeth;
• taking antibiotics and other medications that can affect the color of tooth enamel;
• oncological diseases.

In any case, before using bleaching products, read the instructions, and if you have any doubts, consult a specialist for advice.

How to maintain the result after teeth whitening with drugs from the pharmacy

Home whitening cannot provide as long-lasting results as professional procedures. Therefore, in order to keep your teeth white for as long as possible, after and during whitening, follow three simple rules:

• exclude coloring foods and drinks from your diet: coffee and tea, red wine, soy sauce, beets, carrots, berries;
• pay due attention to oral hygiene: brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day, use dental floss and mouthwash;
• stop smoking or at least reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke.

While destroying, create!

Any whitening is a big stress for the enamel. Therefore, it should be carried out on healthy teeth and under the supervision of a dentist. If you still prefer home whitening, do not forget about visits to the dentist for regular examination and remineralization of the enamel. Thanks to this procedure, the enamel is saturated with fluoride, calcium, phosphorus and other substances beneficial for teeth in 30 minutes. As a result, the tooth surface is reanimated, cracks and scratches are filled, and the risk of caries and other diseases becomes much lower.

Top 7 Teeth Whiteners

Now we will look at the best teeth whitening products: pencils, trays and strips.

Best Teeth Whitening Pencils

My Brilliant Smile

A pencil for cosmetic teeth whitening costs about 1,200 rubles. The whitening gel contains 6% of the active substance - carbamide peroxide. The manufacturer assures that using the pencil is not only safe for teeth and gums, but can also lighten the enamel by 3-5 tones in one use. The procedure of applying the gel to the teeth takes only a few minutes, after which you should not drink or eat for half an hour. Some users complain of a lack of effect or increased tooth sensitivity, so use the gel in full accordance with the instructions.

Price: ₽ 1,200

Supremedent

This lipstick-style whitening pencil is tested in the USA. The product is a little more expensive than the previous one: its price is 1600 rubles. Designed for sensitive teeth, does not contain fluoride. According to the manufacturer, after 10 days of using the gel, your teeth will become 4 shades whiter. The total course of use is 14 days. It not only whitens enamel, but also removes stains from coffee, red wine and cigarettes. The effect should last for a whole year.

Price: ₽ 1,600

The best trays for teeth whitening

ON WHITE

Far from the cheapest, but an effective and pleasant to use teeth whitening kit. Includes an LED tray with gel and special strips: for maximum effectiveness, the products from the set must be alternated. Made in Russia and even patented, which for some may be an additional incentive to purchase.

In order for the mouthguard to glow and the gel to work, the device must be connected to a power source via a USB port - unfortunately, the gadget does not have its own battery, but any smartphone looks great in this capacity. In addition to whitening, the set reduces tooth sensitivity.

A very interesting and, most importantly, effective product that is suitable even for people with thin enamel. The asking price is less than 3,000 rubles. When the strips and gel run out, consumables can be ordered separately without purchasing a new mouth guard.

Price: ₽ 2,090

My Brilliant Smile

Inexpensive teeth whitening trays based on activated carbon and coconut oil. A set of 7 pieces will cost you only 500 rubles. They do not contain hydrogen peroxide, but they do contain components that strengthen enamel and reduce tooth sensitivity, prevent gum inflammation and the development of caries, so you can use Amazing White without fear for your oral health.

Despite the modest price, the mouthguards are made of high quality and fit comfortably in the mouth, without discomfort. The whitening effect should be noticeable after seven days of use. An economical and healthy alternative to professional whitening.

Price: ₽ 500

Zoom Nite White ACP

A more complex and expensive system compared to its competitors, developed by Philips. A whitening kit costs more than 6,500 rubles. The concentration of carbamide peroxide in this case is 16%; kits with 22% and 9.5% of the active substance can also be found on sale. The kit includes 6 syringes with gel, each of which is enough for 3 procedures, 6 tips for applying the gel, a container for storing aligners, two plates for making aligners in a dental clinic, a tooth shade card and instructions for use. The mouth guards themselves are not included in the kit: they must be made by a dentist or purchased separately. A session of using the gel lasts from 5 to 7 hours. Upon completion of the course, the enamel should become 6-8 shades lighter, a very good result.

Price: ₽ 6,690

Best Teeth Whitening Strips

Crest 3D White Luxe Whitestrips Professional Effects

A set of 40 strips - 20 for the upper teeth and 20 for the lower teeth - costs around 4,000 rubles. The whitening course lasts 20 days, and the first results of using the product can be seen already on the third day. Upon completion of the course, the teeth will become 4-5 shades lighter, and this result will last for 12-18 months. Gel strips effectively remove coffee, cigarette or wine stains. The whitening procedure is carried out once a day, takes only 30 minutes, and during this time you can not only talk, but even drink water. The strips are securely glued to the teeth, do not slip and do not cause discomfort when worn.

Price: ₽ 3,600

Global White

A set of 14 teeth whitening strips with active oxygen, designed for a week of daily use. Someone writes that the effect is noticeable after the first use, but it is better to still be prepared for the fact that serious results will appear only after completing the course.

Some users complain of unpleasant dry mouth after whitening sessions. Therefore, you should be careful with strips and use My Brilliant Smile only in accordance with the instructions.

Otherwise, the strips are conveniently packaged, work effectively, and cost only 1,370 rubles - what more could you want from a teeth whitening product at home?

Price: ₽ 1370

Carrying out the procedure

The principle of whitening is to apply a gel with a concentration of hydrogen peroxide to the surface of the enamel. Depending on the whitening technique, preparations with different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide are used: Zoom 1 2 3 - 35%, Zoom 4 - 25%.

Before the procedure, the dentist examines the oral cavity, assesses the condition of the dental system, and determines the initial shade of the teeth. Doctors at the Mitino Dental Center recommend professional teeth cleaning to remove hard and soft plaque before teeth whitening.

The Zoom whitening procedure takes place in several successive stages:

1. The lips and gums are treated with protective agents and isolated from the teeth with a rubber dam (latex plates).
2. Tooth enamel is coated with a special Zoom compound and activated with an LED lamp. A cold light source prevents overheating of soft tissues. The stages of application and illumination are repeated three times. At each stage, the gel should remain on the teeth for no more than 10–15 minutes.
3. The remaining gel is removed with cotton swabs, the teeth are washed with water, dried, the rubber dam is removed, and a remineralizing gel is applied.

When teeth are stained after nerve removal and canal filling, intracoronal bleaching is performed. In this case, a special cavity is filled with Zoom whitening gel and a temporary filling is installed. The pigment breaks down within 10–14 days, after which the temporary filling is replaced with a permanent one. The technique is applied to individual dental units, and not to the entire row.

Comparison chart of the best teeth whiteners

FAQ

How to whiten teeth at home? There are different options. You can use folk remedies like lemon peels, baking soda or hydrogen peroxide, but no one guarantees effectiveness and safety for teeth. It is better to use special products: whitening toothpastes (the main thing is not to get carried away, otherwise you will erase the enamel), gels, mouth guards, strips, varnishes. In our selection above, we just talked about the best special products for teeth whitening at home.

How often can you whiten your teeth? It all depends on what product you use. For example, it is better to brush your teeth with whitening toothpaste no more than a couple of times a week for a month - no longer. After the course, you need to let your teeth rest and recover so as not to damage the enamel. The frequency of use of each specific product is indicated in the instructions for it - be sure to read it before use, and if in doubt, consult your dentist.