Can Tap Water Make My Teeth Whiter?

There has been a growing debate among st experts about the impact leaving fluoride in your drinking water can have on your teeth. For instance, can it really prevent the build up of cavities? Or can it safely be removed from the filtration process?

Now whilst there have been no conclusive studies between drinking water and cavities. In communities such as Dorval, Que and Dryden where fluoride has been removed from their tap water, they have witnessed a significant increase in the number of cavity cases.

So in some ways you could argue that removing fluoride from drinking water could be bad for your teeth.

But can tap water whiten your teeth? Now that is the real question…

No. Whilst fluoride might be able to reduce cavities and in turn limit the amount of discoloration your teeth experiences; we wouldn't recommend turning to tap water as a means to whiten your teeth, as you are sure to be disappointed.

So how can I whiten my teeth?

If you are looking to turn back the clock and undo the impact of years of staining on your teeth, then there are a number of teeth whitening techniques you can try.

• Teeth whitening gels
  
  
  now you have got 2 choices with teeth whitening gels. You can either go to your dentist, pay £100-£750, get them to create a tooth mould and apply a 16% Carbamide Peroxide gel to your teeth over a series of sessions.
  
  
  Or you can invest in a home teeth whitening kit, access the same 16% Carbamide Peroxide gel formulation and apply this gel to your teeth at a fraction of the cost.
  
  
  I’m confused – why the price difference? There is a little secret that dentists don’t want you to know about. Namely the fact that they get their teeth whitening gels from the very same people who sell home teeth whitening kits to you.
  
  
  And it’s true. It’s the exact same gel. The only difference is you are paying for a dentist to apply it for you. Otherwise you are receiving the exact same treatment.
  
  
  How do teeth whitening gels work? Dr George’s Dental White for instance contains 120ml/cc of 16% Carbamide Peroxide which once it enters the pores on your teeth, creates active oxygen that converts colored compounds into colorless compounds.
  
  
  Essentially ‘bleaching’ your teeth, it is possible to see a difference in your teeth after 30 minutes. However wear Dental White for 30 minutes every day for 2 weeks, and you can help your teeth to become up to 11 shades lighter.
  
  
• Teeth whitening strips
  
  
  these generally contain a much weaker concentration of Carbamide Peroxide, but they have also been known to contain hydrogen peroxide and chlorine dioxide.
  
  
  Compared to teeth whitening gels, teeth whitening strips are designed to be worn on your teeth for a longer period of time (which is why they are usually only 10% or less) and stick directly to your teeth.
  
  
  In terms of effectiveness, teeth whitening strips can be hit and miss depending on how vigilant you are. For instance they have been known to cause streaks on your teeth which can make your teeth look unhealthy and even more discolored.
  
  
• Teeth whitening pens
  
  
  using a similar strength formulation to teeth whitening strips, teeth whitening pens can produce better results as you can apply the pen directly to each tooth. This will allow you to control how much you put on, though you will need to be careful that you apply it evenly.
  
  
• Home Remedies
  
  
  You don’t always have to buy a product in order to whiten your teeth. There are also a few home remedies which you can try that can help to remove staining and lighten your teeth.
  
  
  Give these remedies a try:
  
  
   - Strawberries - turn a strawberry into a mash and apply to your teeth every day (making sure to brush with toothpaste afterwards) is one quick technique for removing staining.                                       

          - Hard wood ash – the idea of rubbing this onto your teeth may not sound very appetising, but 

             hard wood ash contains potassium hydroxide which can remove staining and discoloration. 

         - Baking soda and toothpaste – this can taste quite bitter, but baking soda is great for               

           removing plaque and make them look shiny.         

  

Tara has ditched her days of coffee, smoking and bad teeth care to looking after the one and only set she has.  After her first laser teeth whitening session, Tara made these major changes to her life and hasn't stopped smiling since.