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Everyone wants the ideal smile, one that’s bright, straight, and healthy. However, trying to achieve whiter teeth at home often involves sacrificing the health of your mouth. For results that are tested, proven, and long-lasting, it’s best to ditch the DIY tricks you found online for professional teeth whitening in South Austin. This way, you won’t have to make an emergency trip to the dentist due to extreme sensitivity or other problems. Here are four DIY mistakes you can avoid making at home by scheduling a consultation with a cosmetic dentist.

OVERUSING WHITENING STRIPS

We’ve all idly stood in our local oral hygiene aisles staring at the endless wall of teeth whitening kits boasting pictures of beautiful and white smiles and wondered “Hm, it’s about time mine looks like that.” Being filled with the need to brighten your smile, you become tempted to leave your whitening strips on for a few minutes longer than directed on the box to speed up the results. The problem is, overusing whitening strips doesn’t necessarily make your teeth whiter or make you notice results faster. All it does is increase your sensitivity.

SCRUBBING WITH ABRASIVE BAKING SODA

After searching for cost-effective DIY teeth whitening hacks online, you’ve most likely come across a recipe that uses baking soda as its main ingredient. Since many oral hygiene products say they have baking soda on the packaging, you figure it’s no big deal and hope for the best. The problem is, it’s an abrasive substance that can threaten the health of your teeth in the process of breaking apart surface stains.

ACIDIC LIQUIDS DON’T JUST REMOVE STAINS

Many DIY recipes for teeth whitening found online suggest using acidic ingredients like lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to remove discoloration from teeth. Some even call for mixing baking soda with these liquids. The problem is, they won’t just remove the stains, they’ll also erode your enamel. Your tooth enamel is the one thing that protects your pearly whites from being attacked by harmful oral bacteria. Once it’s gone, they’ll be left vulnerable and more at risk to develop infections and cavities. The American Dental Association also listed citrus and acidic fruits on a list of the top nine foods that damage teeth as well.

ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL WHITENING TRAYS

Every smile is uniquely shaped, so it’s never a good idea to try to whiten yours with a one-size-fits-all tray that comes in a store-bought whitening kit. Using one that isn’t made for your mouth can cause strong whitening gels to leak and come into contact with your oral tissues, causing severe irritation. Loose trays can also make your teeth become unevenly whiter in some places than others, which won’t yield the results you were hoping for.

Cosmetic dentistry in South Austin offers professional teeth whitening treatment that is custom-tailored to help you get the results that you were hoping for all along. Using ingredients that have been tested and proven to be safe for your oral health by the ADA, your dentist can whiten your teeth by multiple shades in as soon as an hour!

About the Author

Dr. Jack Fan is dedicated to providing his patients with long-lasting results and high-quality dental care. He has completed a general practice residency and is certified in Level I conscious sedation. He is also an active member of several professional organizations, allowing him to keep up with the latest advancements in his field. He enjoys getting to learn about each of his patients’ desires so he can help them achieve their dream smile. For questions or to schedule a consultation for a cosmetic treatment such as teeth whitening, visit The Dental Centre’s website or call 512-361-4288.