If you’re starting to worry about the color of your teeth, it’s time to take action.

A professional treatment would be most appropriate for being the most effective, but it can also be very expensive.

Luckily, there are a variety of products that promise a whiter smile, however you must know what are the pros and cons of each to choose the most appropriate (not all work!). Take note:

Whitening kits:

If you are in a way that gives you remarkable and inexpensive results, a whitening kit is the option. These generally include a pen that contains an active whitening ingredient, which can be applied directly to the teeth, as well as a mouth guard and an LED light to accelerate the whitening process.

Kits like these provide a much cheaper alternative to professional chair treatments, but generally require multiple applications due to the lower concentration of active bleaching agent, hydrogen peroxide. The effectiveness of the product will also depend on the strength of the bleaching agent it contains and how it uses the product.

It is also important to keep in mind that, since kits for use at home contain lower concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, you may need to use the product for several consecutive nights to achieve the whiteness you desire.

Products with activated carbon

Despite the products of activated carbon in the form of toothbrushes, pastes, DIY recipes and treatments that flood social networks in recent times, experts warn that there is no clinical evidence that activated charcoal is effective as a stain remover, or that can whiten the teeth. The best thing is to consult your dentist if you are looking to whiten your teeth; They will advise you on the most appropriate product to use, especially if you have doubts about sensitivity.

Bleaching strips:

The teeth whitening strips contain peroxide or chlorine and work in the same way as in clothing and hair. The peroxide whitens the surface of the teeth to reduce blemishes and whiten their appearance. By applying the plastic-coated strips to your teeth, the peroxide comes in contact with your enamel, which works to remove stains that cause discoloration.

Although most of the whitening strips on the market are safe, some dentists do not recommend it, since some strips contain chlorine dioxide, which can affect the enamel of the teeth and produce tooth sensitivity.

LED light treatments

If you’ve been close to Instagram in recent months, we’re sure you’ve seen ads for LED teeth whitening treatments. And although a prolific presence in social networks can sometimes make us question whether the method is legitimate. But experts say that they actually whiten teeth.

While numerous scientific studies detail the effectiveness of LED light as a method of tooth whitening, the studies also highlight numerous variables that may affect the results, for example, how long the bleach remains on the teeth and how yellow the teeth were at the beginning of the treatment.

In short, although the peroxide-based bleaching agent and LED light work by penetrating the external enamel to whiten the internal tissue of the tooth (dentine) and dissolve superficial stains, the use of light treatments entails risks. Some of the risks observed in the scientific studies were the possibility of burning soft tissue in the mouth, irritation of the gums and increased sensitivity.

Sodium bicarbonate

Although it is tempting to prepare your own mix at home, you could do more harm than good to your teeth. Mixing baking soda with water has become so popular because the chemical composition of baking soda makes it a great soft abrasive, so it is so good at removing surface stains on tooth enamel. And while that might make it sound like the perfect option for teeth whitening, its regular use can damage tooth enamel, especially if you brush too much. Neither will it eliminate deep or persistent spots on the enamel.

Chewing gum without sugar

Surprisingly, one of the best (and easiest) ways to whiten teeth without causing any damage is chewing gum without sugar. Chewing gum without sugar receives dental approval for several reasons. The main benefit is that it helps eliminate the accumulation of food particles from the surface of the teeth after eating. The chewing action also stimulates the production of saliva, which helps eliminate food particles in the mouth, neutralizes acids that contribute to tooth decay and strengthens tooth enamel.

When selecting their chewing gum, experts suggest looking for brands that contain xylitol, a natural sweetener. Unlike sugar, xylitol does not stimulate the production of bacteria, so the volume of bacteria in the mouth decreases when chewing.