Whitening your enamel appears easy, proper? You purchase the strips, apply the gel, or use some fashionable LED package, and increase—brighter enamel.
However what if I advised you that most individuals go about whitening all flawed?
And worse, they find yourself damaging their enamel in methods they don’t understand till it’s too late.
I do know as a result of I made an enormous mistake with whitening years in the past.
Not on myself—on my eldest daughter.
The Whitening Mistake I’ll By no means Overlook
When my eldest daughter was in sixth grade (about 11 years previous), her grownup enamel had simply are available in. Like most children, they regarded darker than her child enamel.
That is completely regular—child enamel are naturally whiter as a result of they’ve much less dentin beneath the enamel. However I didn’t understand one thing vital on the time…
That the pulp inside a baby’s tooth is far bigger and extra weak, and the oxidizing brokers in whitening gel can attain it—quick.
So, I used whitening trays with peroxide gel on her enamel for 2 hours at a time, pondering it was innocent.
However months later, she began noticing sharp sensitivity to chilly drinks and meals.
Right here’s what was occurring:
Whitening gel penetrates the enamel and reaches the dentin layer beneath. Dentin is porous and linked to the pulp—the place all of the nerves and blood vessels stay inside your tooth.
Overuse of whitening merchandise could cause pulp irritation, which results in that deep, sharp, shoot-you-out-of-your-chair form of sensitivity.
Strengthen First—Then Whiten
Right here’s what most individuals (and most dentists) get flawed:
Would you dye or bleach your hair if it was thinning and breaking? After all not. You’d strengthen it first. The identical goes to your enamel.
Whitening is managed injury. And identical to with hair, in case your enamel is already weak, you’re going to finish up with injury, not simply brightness.
That’s why I by no means advocate whitening until you’re additionally rebuilding and strengthening your enamel on the identical time.
Right here’s how I try this—and what I like to recommend to each affected person earlier than we even speak about whitening:
✅ I make sure that I’m getting the proper minerals.
Robust enamel doesn’t come from toothpaste alone. Your physique wants magnesium, vitamin K2, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D to rebuild enamel from the within out. And most of the people are poor—particularly in magnesium. With out it, your physique can’t correctly use calcium and phosphate—the 2 primary minerals in your enamel.
CLICK HERE in the event you aren’t already taking a magnesium complement that you just love. I’ve been utilizing this one for a few years now and I don’t wish to ever miss a day of magnesium.
✅ I exploit hydroxyapatite toothpaste.
Fluoride hardens enamel—however it additionally leaves a tough, uneven floor that picks up stains. Nano-hydroxyapatite rebuilds enamel in a clean, light-reflecting method, which helps your enamel seem naturally whiter—whereas truly getting stronger.
CLICK HERE for the nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste I created.
✅ I keep away from espresso, wine, and acidic meals for a minimum of 24 hours after whitening.
If I do have them, I exploit a straw and rinse proper after. That window proper after whitening is when your enamel is most porous—and most weak.
My Should-Haves for Whitening the Proper Means
I nonetheless whiten my enamel—however I do it in a method that protects them on the identical time.
As a result of in the event you go too arduous, too quick, or skip the steps that fortify your enamel, you’ll find yourself with sensitivity, tender enamel, and enamel that stain sooner.
1. First, Ask Your self: Do You Even Want Whitening?
Most individuals assume they want whitening, when what they actually need is stain elimination.
Right here’s find out how to inform:
- When was your final skilled cleansing? Plaque and tartar buildup could make enamel look yellow even after they’re not.
- Do you drink espresso, tea, or crimson wine? These trigger exterior stains that will not want whitening—simply sprucing.
- Is your enamel naturally extra yellow? Some individuals have thicker dentin or extra translucent enamel. Whitening can solely accomplish that a lot.
For those who’ve checked these containers and nonetheless need to whiten, transfer on to Step 2 beneath…
2. My Should-Haves for Protected, Efficient Whitening
Customized Whitening Trays + 10% Carbamide Peroxide Gel
That is the gold normal. Customized trays guarantee even software, forestall gum irritation, and allow you to whiten progressively—with out excessive sensitivity.
I just like the Opalescence model which will be discovered on Amazon.
🚫 What to Keep away from:
- Crest Whitestrips – Even the “Skilled Results” model incorporates adhesives and different chemical substances that assist the strips keep on with your enamel—however they’ll additionally disrupt the oral microbiome. To not point out, the outcomes can’t evaluate to what you get with customized trays as a result of whitestrips aren’t 3D, however enamel are!
- LED Whitening Kits – These look high-tech, however there’s zero peer-reviewed proof that blue gentle improves whitening outcomes. The science simply isn’t there.
- Lumineux & “pure” whitening merchandise – If it doesn’t comprise peroxide, it’s not truly whitening. These principally take away floor stains.
- Whitening toothpastes – Abrasive, strip enamel, and satirically, result in extra yellowing over time.
- An excessive amount of peroxide – Extra isn’t higher. It weakens enamel and might trigger long-term pulp injury.
- Something with lemons or strawberries – these strategies make the rounds on Instagram and Pinterest and the acids are simply horrible for enamel!
Whitening Is Superb—If You Do It Proper
I’m not right here to let you know whitening is dangerous. I do it myself.
However I’m additionally not going to be the dentist who simply palms you a whitening package with out asking questions.
Whitening with out strengthening is asking for bother. However do it the proper method—assist your enamel, go gradual, and defend your pulp—and also you’ll get long-lasting outcomes with out the regrets.
Subsequent week, we’re speaking stain elimination—as a result of lots of people don’t really need whitening. Hit reply together with your questions on this subject!
Till then, be good to your enamel and have an awesome weekend!
– Mark
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P.S. What whitening methodology have you ever tried up to now—and the way did it go? Hit reply and let me know. I learn each message.