I want to get my teeth whitened but I live in a small town where there are no cosmetic dentists, just general dentists. As a result, I have been looking online for some solutions. One website said I could whiten my teeth with lemons. That is something I do have access to. What would be the best approach for this? Do I just rub them on my teeth? This site used essential oils, but I don’t have those. I do have plenty of lemons themselves, though.
Caroline
Dear Caroline,
I have bad news and good news for you. First, lets get the bad news over with. You will not want to use lemons to whiten your teeth. The same is true for the essential oils this site was recommending. They contain citrus acid. This will etch the teeth giving it the appearance of whiter teeth at first, but then the etching will quickly begin to pick up stains making your teeth darker than when you first started. The best way to whiten your teeth is through a dentist using professional teeth whitening. It will thoroughly whiten them while keeping your teeth and gums safe and healthy.
Now for the good news. A general dentist can do teeth whitening. In fact, there really is not a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry. Every cosmetic dentist is just a general dentist who has an interest in esthetic procedures. While some cosmetic procedures, such as porcelain veneers require extensive post-doctoral training to learn how to do them correctly, that is not the case with teeth whitening. Just about any general dentist could do it for you. I recommend calling around and seeing who offers it in your town. I’m fairly confident you will be able to find someone.
This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.