Teeth bleaching at home: whiter teeth in just a few steps

Paying a lot of money to dentists for brilliantly white and beautiful teeth is now a thing of the past. Today, we'll show you the inexpensive and, above all, gentle variant of home bleaching. We'll explain how this bleaching method works precisely and what products you need for it.

There are many different methods and products available for whitening teeth at home. All bleaching methods you can use at home are much gentler than bleaching at the dentist's and can be tailored to individual needs. In contrast, in-practice teeth whitening is more aggressive because the bleaching agent used is much more concentrated, which can lead to sensitive teeth after treatment. Before delving deeper into the various possibilities, let's answer why our teeth turn yellow in the first place.

Normally, teeth are neither snow-white nor heavily yellow; a combination of these two colors is common. As age progresses, the white-blueish enamel breaks down, revealing the yellowish dentin underneath. The exact shade of this is genetically determined and varies slightly for each person. Tooth discoloration can also be genetically linked.

However, superficial discoloration can also occur at an early age. Consumption of coffee, black tea, tobacco, fruit juices, or alcohol accelerates discoloration.

If you opt for teeth whitening at home instead of a treatment at your trusted dental office, there are some points you should be clear about and possibly clarify in advance.

Oxidation occurs during bleaching. In this process, the outer tooth substance, the enamel, is decolorized by the action of active oxygen on the embedded colorants. The bleaching agent only affects the color pigments, not the enamel itself. This prevents damage to the tooth during bleaching. The enamel is not made thinner, weaker, or negatively influenced in any way

With the exception of children, pregnant women, breastfeeding women or people with a general dental condition, anyone can whiten their teeth. But before you do, you should visit a dentist for a specific check-up. Tooth decay, exposed tooth necks and gum problems are reasons not to have your teeth whitened, whether at home or with professional treatment in a dental practice. Put simply, if your teeth are not healthy, the active ingredient in the bleaching product can attack your teeth and even damage the inside of the tooth.

If you have plastic fillings, you should also be careful when attempting such a manoeuvre. These often appear darker after bleaching as they cannot be whitened, only the natural teeth are lightened. The whitening products are intended for whitening real tooth substance. Bridges, inlays, fillings etc. are lightened and discoloured, but only to the colour of the original filling.

Once you've completed a teeth bleaching treatment, it usually lasts between 1-2 years. However, the consumption of coloring foods like red wine, black tea, cola, coffee, beetroot, or smoking can lead to discoloration again. To maintain your brilliantly white teeth, it's recommended to refresh the whitening every 6-12 months. 

This depends on two factors: the degree of discoloration and the natural color of the teeth, which varies among individuals. After three days of use, you'll notice brighter teeth. With a treatment duration of 14 days, you can achieve a lightening of 5 to 8 shades. If your desired result is not achieved by then, you can continue the treatment.

During and in the first two weeks after bleaching, it's best to avoid staining foods (e.g., coffee and black tea) as well as tobacco for optimal results and to prevent re-staining

Here's a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of at-home treatment:  

Most whitening toothpaste contains abrasive substances (Hydrated Silica), like quartz sand, which scrub and scratch away discoloration from the tooth. This can permanently damage the enamel and roughen the tooth surface. New discolorations can settle more easily on the roughened surface. Thus, whitening teeth with whitening toothpaste is only short-term and can harm the teeth.

Therefore, the gentle method of using a tooth bleaching agent is a better choice for beautifully bright white teeth.

With the SmilePen Whitening Kit, you can achieve up to 14 shades whiter teeth in just seven days. Results similar to a dental office but at a significantly lower price and with much less time involved.

Do you need even more beaching power? Then we recommend the Power Whitening Kit for up to 70% whiter teeth in just a few days. By the way, you can travel wirelessly with it: The Whitening Accelerator from the Power Whitening Kit can be conveniently charged via cable and can therefore also be used on the go, for example during a long car journey.

The simplest and probably most effective way to whiten and clean your teeth: The smilepen Sonicblue Whitening sonic toothbrush! Thanks to the integrated blue light LED, your teeth are cleaned as usual and whitened at the same time - for simple, effective and radiant whitening that makes every smile shine.

Equipped with different programmes that you can choose according to the individual needs of your teeth - cleaning, whitening, polishing - and 38,000 oscillations per minute, the whitest smile is just one brushing routine away:

We are all familiar with the myths surrounding home remedies that are supposed to ensure a radiant white. But do they really deliver what they promise or is it ultimately better to rely on "made" home remedies such as a whitening toothpaste or tooth rinse?  

Baking powder and baking soda, for example, are said to have a whitening effect, but dentists strongly advise against this household remedy! The tooth substance is worn down and virtually "abraded". If these products are used over a longer period of time, they can even cause small cracks! We definitely say: Hands off, dental health is clearly more important!  

The same also applies to the myth that lemon juice or pureed strawberries are a natural whitening agent. The fruit acid alone or mixed with baking powder also attacks the tooth substance and flesh. Here too, conventional toothpaste or whitening strips are definitely the better choice!

Have you ever heard that salt is supposed to ensure a white smile? This is not the case, but this household remedy does not attack the teeth. At best, salt is suitable for a disinfectant mouthwash. 

The Ayurvedic ritual of oil pulling is much more than a trend, but unfortunately it has no whitening effect on your smile! However, the predicted antibacterial effect on the mouth and gums has been clearly proven and with brands such as Elixr, the morning ritual becomes a beauty & mind ritual!

As you can see, there are diverse and individual options for teeth whitening. Regardless of the type of home bleaching or whitening treatment you choose, always prioritize the health of your teeth and let your smile speak for itself!