Teeth whitening: methods - Christina Cherry

Brilliant white teeth are no longer a dream today. Because the possibilities of teeth whitening are diverse today. Get an overview.

How do I get white teeth?

White teeth

Whitening toothpastes
Over-the-counter whitening products (e.g. stripes) – use not recommended
Professional tooth cleaning
bleaching

If you want to whiten your teeth, you can choose from a wide range of options today, which differ among other things in their intensity of teeth whitening and the possible side effects. There are special products for home use and treatments that the dentist performs.

Tip: Special toothpastes for white teeth are suitable for use at home. Over-the-counter teeth whitening products for whiter teeth are not recommended.

Get white teeth at home

Brushing your teeth regularly and thoroughly – this is the most important prerequisite for beautiful, white teeth!

Brush your teeth at least twice a day
Pay attention to the correct tooth brushing technique
Also clean the interdental spaces thoroughly (with special brushes and / or dental floss)
Replace the toothbrush every three months at the latest, as worn or bent bristles no longer guarantee perfect cleaning performance

Extra tip: If you want to do even more for white teeth, you can use whitening toothpaste.

Special toothpastes for white teeth have been developed to bring out the natural whiteness of the teeth.

Corresponding whitening toothpastes usually contain special cleaning agents ("emery materials") that can dissolve surface stains. The products offered differ, among other things, with regard to the intensity of the abrasive (abrasive) effect and their additional effects (e.g. gum protection).

Learn more about whitening toothpaste here.

If you want to bleach your teeth yourself, you can use various over-the-counter tooth bleaching agents with hydrogen peroxide or other bleaching ingredients (e.g. whitening strips, tooth-white pencil or similar).

However, experts advise against such bleaching agents for teeth. Improper use can, among other things, irritate the gums or even damage the teeth (e.g. if the bleach spills out of a splint). Accordingly, it was also legally stipulated that corresponding teeth whitening products for personal use must not exceed a concentration of 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. * A real brightening effect is questionable anyway.

There are many home remedies for white teeth. Especially baking soda for white teeth is a real long-time favorite among the secret recipes.

Experts advise caution: even if the teeth can actually appear whiter for a short time, the substances usually also attack the enamel. This allows color particles to adhere more easily to the tooth – it darkens. Last but not least, the enamel degradation that is favored in this way ensures that the yellowish dentine shines through. White teeth? None!

Read more about white teeth with home remedies here.

Whiten teeth at the dentist

Professional tooth cleaning is recommended to bring out the natural whiteness of the teeth. After all, deposits and tartar are removed from the teeth particularly thoroughly and also polished. At the same time, regular professional tooth cleaning also prevents dental problems such as tooth decay or gingivitis.

Whitening is the bleaching of teeth with chemical substances (especially hydrogen peroxide). In order to prevent damage to teeth and gums as well as irregular results, it is strongly advised to carry out bleaching only under the supervision of a dentist and not to use over-the-counter bleaching products.

Different approaches are possible:

Home bleaching: The dentist creates an individual plastic splint that the user fills with bleaching gel at home and wears for hours. The duration of the treatment is approximately 2 weeks
Office bleaching: Teeth bleaching in the dentist’s office with a correspondingly higher dose of bleach
Power Bleaching: Accelerate office bleaching using UV light or laser

The result of whitening usually lasts up to three years.

Learn more about bleaching here.

Frequently asked questions and answers about bleaching can be found here.

Veneers are an expensive variant for whiter teeth. These are thin ceramic shells that are made in the desired white and glued to the teeth. The teeth may have to be ground beforehand.

Around 600 to 700 euros can be expected per tooth.

However, the result is long to unlimited – veneers do not change color. However, the adhesive edges can change their color.

Ask your dentist for advice.

The teeth darken again after a whitening treatment. The result lasts about 2-3 years. Read more here

Improper brushing and inflammation of the gums can cause the gums to withdraw. More about the causes.

Dental plaque can be removed by brushing your teeth thoroughly. Tartar, on the other hand, can only be removed by the dentist.

Even “zero drinks” often contain acid – and can therefore damage the tooth enamel. Read more here.

Toothpaste with fluoride can strengthen tooth enamel. More on this.

The risk of caries is particularly high between the ages of 13 and 16 Learn more.

Tooth whitening, like bleaching the hair, uses the active ingredient hydrogen peroxide. Read more here.

By using fluoride toothpastes, a caries reduction of 20 to 30 percent can be achieved.

Dental plaque can only be removed mechanically, i.e. with a toothbrush and dental floss. So mouthwashing alone is not enough. Find out more here.

Gum decline is not just an aesthetic problem. Because teeth are often sensitive to cold or hot, eating and drinking can become a painful affair. More on this.

“Halitophobics” are convinced that they have bad breath and bother others – although this is not the case.

Dentists recommend cleaning the interdental spaces once a day with interdental brushes and / or dental floss.

If caries is detected early, there is no need to drill. Find out more here.

If your gums recede, you should take a close look at your tooth brushing habits. Find out more here.

Smokers are at increased risk of gingivitis and periodontitis.

Tartar can be white-yellowish, brown or even black. Read more here.

Over-the-counter tooth bleaching agents may only contain one hydrogen peroxide-salary of 0.1%. Read more here.

Wiggly teeth are easier to clean if you put a finger behind them. Learn more.

Fissure sealing at the dentist can be helpful in some cases to protect children’s teeth from caries. Learn more.

Sensitive teeth are often the result of exposed tooth necks. Find out more here.

Dental plaque is constantly emerging – even shortly after brushing your teeth.

Much of the population shows signs of gingivitis. Read here what you can do about it.

Stress can promote bad breath – because with stress, the flow of saliva in the mouth is reduced. Learn more about possible bad breath triggers here.

If the gums have already regressed, they can no longer be re-formed. More on this.

Tongue cleaning is recommended as part of the daily oral hygiene program.

Plaque contains a smorgasbord of different types of bacteria. Some of them are harmless, while others produce acids or toxins. Read more here.

Too violent "scrubbing" when brushing teeth can damage the gums. Exposed tooth necks or sensitive teeth can result. Read more here.

For decades, drinking water has been mixed with fluoride in various countries such as the USA, Canada, Ireland and Australia.

Too much scrubbing when brushing your teeth can damage the enamel. Read more here.

More and more young people are affected by tooth enamel degradation. This is mainly due to the frequent consumption of acidic lemonades. Read more here.

About 60-80 percent of all bacteria in the oral cavity can be found in the tongue coating.

A baby toothpaste usually contains 500 ppm fluoride. Learn more.

From about five and a half to six years of age, most children have their first permanent molars erupt and the front incisors begin to shake. Learn more.

The interdental spaces make up 30 percent of the total tooth surface. This makes it clear how important it is to remove dental plaque in a targeted manner even at these hidden places.

The better plaque is removed, the sooner you can protect yourself against tartar and possible consequences. Find out more here.

With the right toothpaste, you can protect your teeth from acid-related enamel degradation. Learn more.

Improper brushing can favor yellow teeth. There are other causes here.

Fluoride protects the teeth and plays a key role in preventing tooth decay. Read more about how to prevent tooth decay here.

First indications of the protective effect of fluoride against caries came from studies in the USA. It was found that adolescents from regions with fluoride-rich drinking water had only half as many carious teeth as their peers from regions with low-fluoride drinking water.

If plaque is not or not sufficiently removed, tartar can develop. Read more here.

Exposed tooth necks are often the result of periodontitis. Read more about the relationships here.

White spots on the teeth can be a first sign of tooth decay. Find out more about the symptoms of tooth decay here.

Bad breath is caused by problems in the oral cavity in around 90 percent of cases – bacterial tongue coating plays a role. Read all about the causes of bad breath here.

Every fourth patient in the dentist’s chair has sensitive teeth. Find out here what you can do about it.

Bleaching treatment should always be monitored by the dentist. Learn more.

Most tooth discoloration can be reduced by thorough and regular dental care. Learn more tips against yellow teeth here.

Our tooth color is genetically determined. Your teeth will darken over the course of your life. Learn more.

Tartar increases the risk of tooth decay and gum inflammation – tartar removal is therefore important. Find out more here.

Caries in children and adolescents occurs in about 80 percent of the cases in the area of the recesses (fissures) of the molars. These should therefore be cleaned particularly thoroughly after changing teeth. Learn more.

If the teeth are sensitive to hot or cold, special toothpastes can reduce the sensitivity to pain. Read more here.

In contrast to gingivitis, periodontitis is an irreversible process. Find out more here.

Teeth that are sensitive to pain can be a sign of tooth enamel breakdown. Learn more.

Clean the interdental spaces before or after brushing your teeth? According to experts, this is rather of secondary importance. It is important that it happens every day.

One in four suffers from persistent bad breath (halitosis).

Soft drinks and energy drinks can promote tooth enamel degradation. Learn more.

Home remedies for yellow teeth are ineffective at best. Because lemon juice, salt & Co. can also cause damage.

Baking powder for white teeth? Experts advise against this home remedy due to the possible tooth enamel damage. Learn more.

Fruit juices and smoothies can promote tooth decay – they contain a lot of sugar. Learn more about the causes of tooth decay here.

Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body. No wonder the dentist uses a diamond drill to machine it. Learn more.

The health insurance company pays for the removal of tartar once a year. Read more on the topic.

Plaque can promote the development of gum problems and thus exposed tooth necks. Read more about the relationships here.

Milk teeth have a very soft and thin tooth enamel and are therefore particularly susceptible to tooth decay. The first tooth should already be cleaned. Learn more.

Periodontitis is the most common cause of tooth loss in adults over 40 years of age. Early treatment is all the more important.

The use of toothpaste with fluoride is an essential part of tooth decay prevention.

Over-the-counter tooth whitening agents are not recommended – irregular results and damage to teeth and gums are possible. Learn more.

Bad breath originates from the stomach far less frequently than is widely assumed. Learn everything about the causes of bad breath here.

Tips for white teeth

Coffee, tea & Co. reduce

A large number of foodstuffs and luxury foods are responsible for unsightly tooth discoloration. If you want to take countermeasures, you should reduce the typical "culprits" such as coffee, red wine or tea. Refraining from nicotine can also be rewarded with whiter teeth.

Brush your teeth thoroughly and regularly

Naturally white teeth? Those who pay attention to thorough and regular dental care create the best basis. Brush your teeth twice a day and also pay attention to cleaning the interdental spaces (e.g. with special interdental brushes and dental floss). Replace your toothbrush at least every three months so as not to reduce the cleaning result from worn bristles.

Find out more about brushing your teeth properly here.

Extra tip: Special whitening toothpastes were specially developed to remove tooth discoloration and thus bring the natural teeth whiteness back to life.

Odol-med3 ® White & Shine: For visibly whiter teeth *

The formula with Micro Gloss Pearl technology gently cleans, smoothes and polishes the tooth surface for one clinically proven gloss effect and visibly whiter teeth. *

The teeth whitening protection formula has been clinically proven to help keep teeth shiny white for longer. *

* With regular brushing compared to Odol-med3 ® Original toothpaste. Visibly whiter teeth according to dental assessment.

Professional tooth cleaning

Have a professional tooth cleaning done by the dentist regularly! Because this not only reduces the risk of tooth decay and gingivitis, but also ensures whiter teeth. During the treatment, deposits and tartar are removed with special instruments – the natural teeth whiteness comes out again.

Caution with over-the-counter tooth bleaching agents

Teeth whitening at home? That sounds comfortable, but over-the-counter tooth bleaching agents such as whitening strips or whitening pencils are judged extremely critically by experts. For example, improperly used bleaching agents can cause gum irritation. Accordingly, the highest concentration of bleaching agent has been set by law (0.1% hydrogen peroxide) – the bleaching effect can therefore be assessed as low.

Important: It is strongly advised against bleaching agents with a higher concentration (e.g. via online mail order).

Baking soda for whiter teeth? Better not!

Home remedies for lighter teeth are very popular. Especially baking soda is an insider tip for whiter teeth. But tips such as banana peel, coconut oil or lemon juice are also circulating on the Internet. Experts advise caution. Even if, for example, baking soda can actually make your teeth whiter in the short term, damage to the enamel and thus an increased tendency for tooth discoloration is more likely.

Find out more about home remedies for white teeth here

bleaching

If you want to whiten your teeth by a few shades, you can get a professional whitening treatment at the dentist. A chemical bleaching substance is applied to the teeth. The brightening effect usually lasts up to three years.

Important: The dentist should examine the condition of the teeth and gums in advance. Professional teeth cleaning is also recommended before bleaching.

Ask your dentist for advice.