Play Full VideoTake a walk down the aisle of your drugstore or grocery store, and you will see a vast array of products designed to whiten your teeth. There are whitening strips, mouthwashes, toothpastes and other kits and products touting the ability to brighten your smile. And there are home remedies that are said to get the job done.
One such home remedy is the use of strawberries. The process of rubbing teeth with a mixture of strawberries and baking soda has been shown to remove plaque, but doesn’t make teeth any brighter.  Charcoal has been suggested for whitening teeth. Because there are abrasives in charcoal, you could run the risk of damaging your teeth instead of making them brighter. Some have tried swishing coconut oil in their mouths, a process called oil pulling. Although there are no negative effects from oil pulling, there have been no studies showing that it does any real good. Â
Before you try add anything new to your oral health regimen, or if you are considering whitening your teeth, you should talk with your dentist first. Based on your oral health and history, your dentist can make recommendations about whitening treatments and toothpastes. In fact, you can be certain that you are getting a safe and effective teeth whitening treatment if you have it done in your dentist’s office.  After cleaning your teeth, the dentist may use a gel or a sheet to protect  your gums. Then he will apply a gel to your teeth to break up the stains and bring back your white smile. You will notice an improvement after the first treatment, and the dentist can give you a kit to take home to maintain your look.
If you are considering whitening your teeth, make an appointment to see our dentist, Dr. Edmund L. W. Char for a consultation and to learn about treatment plans. If you live in the Honolulu, Hawaii, area, you can call 808-450-2155 to make an appointment at Char Dental. We look forward to helping you get on the way to a brighter smile!