Teeth whitening

hbp2008

Any good tips on cheap teeth whitening? I don't want one of those kits with the gel, they worry me! Any natural remedies or advice you can give? I drink a lot of coffee!

brook2jack

A visit with a dental hygienist will cost £30 to £60 and will get rid of coffee stains , plus tartar and leave your teeth and gums clean and healthy.

There is nothing you can legally buy over the counter that will whiten teeth. The only things you can buy are abrasive and will scrub stains off teeth but what will scrub stains off teeth will also remove enamel and tooth substance , leading to sensitivity and visible damage.

If it is not just stains you want removing but you want your teeth whitened the only safe, legal way to do this is to see a dentist. You will pay £150 to £350 on average for this , but you will be given trays to top up in future with just the cost of the gels which will be around £10.

katiekittykat

I had something called "Air flow" at the dentist 3 months after a hygiene appointment, fab and only cost £50

hbp2008

Thank you x

Sue_S

katiekittykat wrote: »

I had something called "Air flow" at the dentist 3 months after a hygiene appointment, fab and only cost £50

Is AirFlow an alternative to a scale and polish? I've got sensitive teeth and I hate having this done although I know it's necessary.

brook2jack

Airflow/Sylc polish etc will not get rid of tartar , and it's tartar that needs removing otherwise plaque builds up , your gums shrink and your teeth get more and more sensitive.

It's a system that cleans stains off your teeth using a powder and liquid in a special machine . https://youtu.be/-HQ9HLoJgQo

However sylc which is one of the powders that can be used is also very good at treating sensitive teeth.

katiekittykat

Sue_S wrote: »

Is AirFlow an alternative to a scale and polish? I've got sensitive teeth and I hate having this done although I know it's necessary.

I have it as well as.

There is numbing gel now if you have sensitive teeth during a scale and polish

brook2jack

Most hygienists now are qualified as therapists as well and can give an injection of local anaesthetic on a dentists prescription if scaling is uncomfortable.

Oraquix is a gel that can be squirted down gum pockets to make scaling more comfortable. It is very expensive so is very unlikely to be offered instead of an injection on the NHS but is often offered for private scaling. Some people get on with it very well, others still need injections .

graschu

My grandma has an old, "surely" working tip for whitening teeth. You only need a baking soda. It's natural, cheap, you can buy it in any supermarket, and it's safe (even if you swallow). You just need to rub your teeth with baking soda powder once or twice per day, and that's it.

Alexxaa

Try Oil pulling

The practice involves swishing oil around in your mouth to remove bacteria, which can turn into plaque and cause your teeth to look yellow.

Traditionally, Indians used sunflower or sesame oil for oil pulling, but any oil will work.

Coconut oil is a popular choice because it has a pleasant taste and offers many additional health benefits.

Unfortunately, there are no scientific studies to prove that oil pulling whitens your teeth. However, it's a safe practice and definitely worth a try. Many people claim their teeth are whiter and brighter after regular oil pulling.

To oil pull, put 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and push and pull the oil through your teeth. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, so you may need to wait a few seconds for it to melt. Continue the oil pulling for a full 15-20 minutes.

Unlike many other tooth whitening methods, coconut oil pulling does not expose your teeth to acid or other ingredients that erode the enamel. This means it is safe to do daily.

Toothsmith

Oil pulling is complete rubbish!!!!

I have a patient who had fantastic teeth, and always brushed them well.

One day she came in and her gums were an absolute mess. Swollen, bleeding and wall to wall plaque & tartar.

Enquiries revealed that she'd read all about oil pulling on t'interweb, and decided to give it a go. Using only the finest coconut oil, she'd abandoned her toothbrush about 4 months previously. Could I tell the difference?

"Yes" I said. "Before, your oral health was fantastic. Now you have a mouth like someone who's been living rough for a few months".

A couple of hygienist visits, and a return to proper oral hygiene measures and she was soon back to normal and fortunately no lasting damage (probably because she'd started off from a very healthy position anyway, and she had always been a regular attender - so the change was picked up pretty quickly. )

But - oil pulling IS NOT a good oral hygiene measure. It is useless. If you do it ALONGSIDE proper oral hygiene methods, it will probably do no harm. If you do it INSTEAD of them - it certainly will.


Oh - and do it for 20mins??? If people only spent half that on conventional oral hygiene methods - they'd all have fantastic teeth anyway!!! It's all we can do to convince people to spend 2 mins on it a couple of times a day!!