The internet offers dozens of home whitening recipes. Some are harmless but ineffective. Some damage enamel irreversibly — enamel, unlike skin or mucosa, does not regenerate. Here are the common ones.
Baking soda
Works as an abrasive: it scrubs off surface staining. Short-term, teeth look lighter. The problem is that it does not change the tooth’s actual colour, and with regular use it wears enamel and scratches the surface. A scratched surface picks up stain faster than a smooth one — so in the long run the result gets worse.
Activated charcoal
The same, only more abrasive. There is no evidence that charcoal changes tooth colour. There is evidence of enamel wear. The black powder also collects at the gum line and along filling margins.
Lemon juice, vinegar, apple cider vinegar
The most damaging group. Acid dissolves enamel minerals directly. Teeth may initially look lighter because the enamel turns matt and porous — which means the layer is damaged. The result is lasting sensitivity and a yellower appearance, because dentine shows through thinner enamel.
Coconut oil pulling
Harmless, but ineffective. It does not change tooth colour. If it replaces brushing, it does indirect harm.
Whitening toothpaste
It works, but only against surface staining — it is essentially a more abrasive paste. It does not change the actual tooth colour. Look for the RDA value on the packet: below 100 is safe for daily use, above 150 is already abrasive. Do not use it on exposed tooth necks, where the covering is not enamel but much softer cementum.
Whitening strips
These contain a genuine active agent — peroxide — and so do whiten. The risks: the gel spreads unevenly, gets onto the gum and causes irritation, and the strips do not cover the teeth completely, so the result can be patchy. With untreated decay or a leaking filling, peroxide reaches the inside of the tooth and causes severe pain.
What actually works
- Professional cleaning (€100) — removes surface staining and restores the tooth’s natural shade. For many people that is enough.
- An individual home tray (€85) — gel at a concentration set by the dentist, with a tray that covers the teeth evenly and keeps gel off the gum. Slow, but safe and controlled.
- In-chair whitening (€340 for both arches) — the fastest and most even result.
The most important thing before whitening
Any whitening — at home or in the chair — requires that decay is treated and gums are healthy. And remember: fillings, crowns and veneers do not change colour. If a front tooth has a visible filling, it will stay darker after whitening and will need replacing.
If you are not sure what is causing your teeth to darken, come and let us take a look — Unidenta, Tallinn.