Teeth Whitening: How to Whiten Your Teeth

Teeth whitening is the process of bleaching teeth to make them appear whiter and brighter.¹ Teeth aren’t naturally white², but many people seek to make theirs a lighter shade to feel more confident with their smile.

If you want to make your teeth whiter, there are ways you can lighten your teeth at home, including changing your diet³ and using a whitening toothpaste such as Sensodyne Pronamel Gentle Whitening. Alternatively, you can have your teeth professionally whitened by your dentist.

Read on to find out how to get white teeth at home, myths surrounding teeth whitening, and the causes of yellow teeth.

How to Whiten Your Teeth

There are a number of ways you can whiten your teeth, ranging from natural methods to getting them bleached. These include:

Whitening Toothpaste

The most common method of whitening teeth at home is using a whitening toothpaste and following a good oral hygiene routine. There are plenty of whitening toothpaste options in our Sensodyne range, including Sensodyne Repair and Protect Whitening.

Whitening toothpastes work by using gentle abrasives to polish away surface stains, or peroxide to dissolve stains. They can’t remove stains that originate beyond the tooth’s surface or change the colour of your natural teeth.⁷ Treatments for deeper stains will need to be recommended by your dentist.

Cut Out Foods and Drinks that Stain Teeth

Some foods and drinks are major culprits for staining your teeth. As well as tea, coffee, and red wine⁵, these include:

• Dark fruit juices (cranberry, blueberry, grape, etc.)⁸
• Cola⁸
• Soy sauce⁸
• Balsamic vinegar⁸
• Tomato-based sauces⁸
• Curry⁸

If you don’t want to cut these things completely out of your diet, you could try alternatives like herbal tea instead of coffee, or rinsing your mouth out with water after consuming these foods or drinks to help prevent staining.⁹

Consume Fewer Acidic Foods and Drinks

Acidic foods and drinks cause acid erosion to your tooth enamel. Not only does this cause tooth sensitivity, it can also cause discolouration¹⁰ through exposing the yellow dentine beneath the worn-away enamel⁴.

Acidic foods and drinks to avoid, or cut down on, include:

• Tomatoes¹¹
• Citrus fruits and juices¹¹
• Raisins and other dried fruits¹¹
• Soft carbonated (fizzy) drinks¹¹
• Sweets and candy¹¹

When you do consume these foods, try to avoid brushing your teeth for an hour afterwards. This gives your enamel the chance to reharden after it has been softened by the acid and reduces the chance that you’ll brush away soft tooth enamel.¹²

Professional Whitening

Professional whitening is a more immediate solution for those looking to whiten their teeth by several shades¹⁵. The results also last longer, although even professional whitening isn’t permanent¹⁴.

Dentists may administer tooth whitening treatments at their clinic and can give patients bleaching kits to whiten their teeth at home as well. The treatment should always be given by a dentist, hygienist or another dental professional as it involves the use of chemicals that can damage the teeth and gums if used incorrectly.¹³