In order to fully address all the questions we get about how to whiten teeth, in this article we intend to establish some definitions and differences between current common whitening techniques.
Once this foundation is in place, we can dive into the risks of whitening techniques, how to naturally whiten your teeth, and advanced strategies to have a naturally whiter smile in upcoming articles.
We recently started this discussion with an article focused on what we consider being the first step how to whiten your teeth naturally.
In today’s discussion, let’s dive into understanding how whitening works, the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic tooth discoloration, and common whitening strategies.
The Two Types of Stains
There are two main categories of stains that cause our teeth to be discolored.
Intrinsic:
Intrinsic stains occur when the deeper layer of tissue, the dentin, becomes discolored.
Common causes of intrinsic stains are:
Dental fluorosis – when a person is exposed to too much fluoride while the teeth were forming
Antibiotic exposure – exposure to tetracycline early in life can cause intrinsic stains
Tooth trauma – if you injure a tooth badly, it can permanently discolor
Extrinsic:
Extrinsic stains are what most of us think of when we want to whiten our teeth. Extrinsic stains are on/in the surface enamel layer of tissue on our teeth.
To help stop causing extrinsic stains on your teeth, please read about common staining foods in our article, the first step to having naturally whiter teeth.
Age-related:
Honorable mention goes to age-related discoloration.
Teeth tend to yellow as we age. The main reasons for this are accumulated stains and a thinning of enamel. You see, dentin (the layer of tissue in each of our teeth just under the outer enamel layer) naturally has an ‘off white’ color. So if we wear through our enamel more quickly, our teeth will seem more discolored.
After a handful of decades drinking coffee and brushing unconsciously, you can see why teeth yellow with age. If we allow stains to accumulate while we brush our teeth like we were scrubbing a grout line, the combination of extrinsic stains and thinning enamel will hasten results in ‘age related’ discoloration.
As you’ll see in our next articles as we continue to dive into this subject, the good news is there is much we can do to naturally whiten our teeth and not compromise the long-term health of our smiles (yes, even if we consider ourselves in that ‘age related’ group :))
Let’s continue to establish some definitions to base our discussion on…
What’s the difference between ‘whitening’ and ‘bleaching’?
While both terms whitening and bleaching are used for making our teeth whiter, our culture definitely has leaned toward using the term whitening. I’m sure this is at least in part because industry realized that using the term bleaching is bad for marketing such products.
However, there are specific differences.
For the purpose of being able to discuss this clearly, we’ll use whitening when we refer to strategies and techniques that address extrinsic (surface) stains. We will use the term bleaching when referring to strategies and techniques that address intrinsic stains.
Mechanical vs Chemical Strategies
The last distinction we want to put in place is the difference between strategies used to whiten/bleach teeth.
Mechanical methods
Mechanical methods use abrasives to remove surface/extrinsic stains from the teeth. Common choices here are ingredients like baking soda, clay powders, and hydrated silica.
Chemical methods
Chemical methods use various bleaching agents to address both extrinsic and intrinsic stains.
All commercial whitening techniques use chemical bleaching agents to achieve their goal. Whether it’s an at home kit, a professional whitening treatment at your dentist’s office, or even just commercial ‘whitening’ toothpaste, all products and techniques we have reviewed use chemical means for whitening teeth.
These chemical agents work by bleaching the extrinsic stains as well as intrinsic stains by penetrating the teeth and bleaching the dentinal layer of tissue as well.
What are the ingredients in commercial bleaching (whitening) products?
There are currently four main chemical agents used in tooth ‘whitening’ kits/treatments. As you’ll see, they all use the same ‘strategy’, to bring free oxygen to oxidize stains (both extrinsic and intrinsic) from the teeth.
Not coincidentally, you’ll probably recognize most if not all of these chemicals as the ingredients used to bleach (whiten) our laundry.
Hydrogen peroxide:
Hydrogen peroxide has been the ‘go to’ bleaching method for many years. However, over the years, more and more studies have been conducted that show some potential drawbacks of using hydrogen peroxide at the concentrations used in tooth bleaching.
(note to Healthy Mouth System customers: We will thoroughly address the relative risks of using hydrogen peroxide in our upcoming article on the risks associated with tooth whitening methods as well as how to safely use hydrogen peroxide.)
Carbamide peroxide:
Carbamide peroxide is a solid crystalline form of peroxide created by combining hydrogen peroxide with urea. When carbamide peroxide dissolves in water, it turns into hydrogen peroxide. It’s a different delivery of peroxide that studies seem to suggest has less drawbacks than traditional hydrogen peroxide based bleaching methods.
A main point on concentrations…
The concentration of peroxide (whether hydrogen or carbamide) has a huge impact whether this product is going to be safe or risky to use in the mouth.
When considering the concentration of a peroxide product, the whitening system has to use 3 times the carbamide peroxide to obtain the same amount of hydrogen peroxide. In other words, a 15% solution of carbamide peroxide yields a 5% hydrogen peroxide solution when used.
We will dive much deeper on this subject of concentration in upcoming articles discussing the risks of whitening products.
Chlorine dioxide:
Chlorine dioxide is considered by some safer than the others above. However, like so many products marketed as ‘new and improved’, why industry began using chlorine dioxide helps to shed light on this confusing subject.
It turns out that the UK had some pretty big concerns about allowing the use of peroxide (either hydrogen or carbamide) to be sold in tooth bleaching products in the UK. So, in an effort to find a ‘workaround’ of the legislation, industry turned to chlorine dioxide (the legislation was clearly written based on the use of peroxides)
More on chlorine dioxide and its relative safety in future articles…
Sodium Perborate:
Sodium perborate is a less used chemical for bleaching treatments. Like other strategies above, sodium perborate is another form of bringing ‘free oxygen’ in the form of hydrogen peroxide to sit on the teeth to whiten.
Bringing it all together
Here are a couple of statements to help bring all this information together.
Whitening techniques use mechanical methods to remove extrinsic stains.
Bleaching techniques use chemical methods to remove both extrinsic and intrinsic stains.
(Just remember, the tooth whitening industry has chosen to move away from the term bleaching for the ‘nicer’ term. That still doesn’t change the fact that they use bleaching agents to accomplish their goals.)
Now that we have these terms defined, we can turn our attention to the relative risks of each of these strategies, how to use the strategies more wisely to reduce the risks, as well as strategies to naturally whiten our smiles.
Until the next article in this series, may your bright, healthy smile continue to bless your life and the lives of those around you each and every day!
Also, feel free to download our FREE eBook, “How to Naturally Whiten Your Teeth (without destroying your enamel)”.
Helpful, Related Resources:
The First Step How to Whiten Your Teeth Naturally [article]
Dr. Beth Vander Schaaf, D.D.S says
I really liked your content, Will and Susan. What an insightful way to inform the difference about bleaching and whitening process. Most of the people that actually suffers from discoloration is of extrinsic type and they need to read this kind of blog to stay informed before choosing their options.
Will And Susan says
Thanks so much for stopping by do add your voice to the conversation Dr Vander Schaaf! It’s an honor that professionals like you come by to help us round out this discussion on our blog.
We wholeheartedly welcome you to add your voice to any other articles around here!
Thanks again!
Todd D. Hill says
Wow! This is such an informative blog! I’ve been searching everywhere about Teeth Whitening and your post is what I’ve been looking for! Thank you so much!
Patty McCredie says
I know much of this must depend on personal chemistry, but oil pulling definitely whitens my teeth markedly and with complete gentleness. I notice a significant number of others report the same thing.
Will says
Aloha Patty,
Thank you for stopping to by ask.
We are almost to the article where we will share our thoughts on various natural whitening methods. Activated charcoal is on that list. 🙂
Stay tuned…
mpbusyb says
I am thankful for your sensible and sensitive articles about tooth health and whitening. You have me looking forward to your subsequent articles with great cliff-hanging anticipation!
~Melisa
Will says
Aloha Melisa!
Thank you so much for your kind words of support! We didn’t mean to leave you on a cliff and we’re glad you are excited to read the next ‘chapter’! 🙂
Jaime says
Thank you for your informative newsletters. You have become a trusted source for all dental matters for me and for my family of eight. (That’s a lot of teeth!) My husband’s mother took tetracycline while she was expecting him and of course as a result his teeth a gray. I’ve always wondered if there is some natural way to help lighten his teeth.
Maybe even more than the great products and instruction you share, I appreciate your cheerful, positive, and humble outlook. It comes through in all of your posts and it is, happily, infectious.
Will says
Aloha Jaime,
Wow, thank you SO much for taking the time to share your caring feedback for our work. Hearing from you that you read the cheerful, positive humility in our articles tells us so much that our efforts to cultivate our writing skills to communicate just that is working.
We are so blessed to have kind people like you who appreciate our research. If we are going to ‘infect’ the world with anything together, let’s spread more healthy, happy smiles!
Thank you and Aloha!
Diane says
Thank you Will & Susan for the very informative article, I will read the other article in a mo. but I think I’ve already read it, if it’s about coconut oil pulling.
For months I used Corsydle mouthwash, which was recommended by my dentist, till I realised that it was turning my once white teeth brown! I have tried everything to whiten them and am now using 6% peroxide, twice per week, just wipeing it on then rinsing straight off again. It does seem to have helped a bit, but I’m worried about side effects.
Great web page & products. Thanks again
Diane x
Will says
Aloha Diane,
Thank you for stopping by to offer your story to the learning process here with us.
I encourage you to be very careful using 6% hydrogen peroxide in the mouth. The way these bleaching agents work is to be able to sit on the teeth. If they don’t have much time (per your comment of wiping it on, then rinsing right away), I wonder if you are seeing much benefit. I do agree with your cautious approach and not wanting the 6% to sit in your mouth though.
Please share more if you are moved to. Have you found benefit? Any negative side effects?
Diane says
Thanks for your reply Will
My teeth do look whiter and no sensitivity. I did use 3% before, but didn’t see a different. I had read that you should not leave the peroxide on your teeth for more than 5 seconds as after this damage will be caused!
I did write to Corseydl to ask how to get their product out of my teeth and that if it had been stated that their products badly stains teeth, I would not have used it, I got no reply from them!
With Thanks
Diane x
Jennifer says
Thank you for this and other blogs.They are so educational. I’ve learned so much from these and your videos. Much Aloha!
Jennifer
Will says
Aloha Jennifer,
Ahh, thank you! We SO appreciate you taking the time to share with us your appreciation for our work. Knowing that there are kind people like you who find benefit from us researching and sharing our findings really helps.
Aloha!
Paulette says
I appreciate your information so much. I have a tooth next to front tooth that is greying . Probably frpm a trauma 5 years ago. Any hope to lighten it – is it dead – I still feel a soreness there?
Will says
Aloha Paulette,
Thank you for the kind words of support. If I were in your shoes, I would consider having a dentist take a look at that tooth. If you still feel it, there’s still life there. However, the color change could indicate trouble. But it could also just be that the trauma you mention caused some bleeding into the inner area of the tooth and that’s the color coming through. There are strategies to whiten teeth like you mention here that involves placing whitening agents into the tooth.
To look into this treatment or even to whiten teeth in general really is a personal value judgment each of us must make. There are risks that we’ll continue to write on in the coming weeks, but each of us must also weigh on the ‘risk’ of not feeling our best if we feel that we don’t want to smile as much because of a darkened tooth.
Because our smile is so foundational to expressing health, etc, this consideration is so much more than answering ‘is the whitening treatment going to damage my teeth’. Keep reading as we have lots to share on this that we think will help. 🙂
Jenna says
When I started oil pulling twice daily with coconut oil, my teeth lightened several shades in just two weeks. It made a huge difference!
Will says
Agreed Jenna!
Oil pulling is an excellent strategy that clearly has stood the test of time as to its safety.
Thanks for sharing!