Temporary changes in the colour of teeth are normal, as teeth can change from white to yellow or grey due to drinking certain drinks such as coffee or tea, or it can be a result of smoking.
Professor Christoph Benz, President of the German Dental Association, said that many home recipes promise to get rid of teeth discolouration and restore their bright white colour.
These recipes include baking powder, salt, lemon juice, and sage leaves, and while some have limited effectiveness, others are harmful.
Professor Benz explained that baking powder has a mild whitening effect, however, its excessive use harms the enamel, warning against using acids such as lemon and mashed strawberries, which can be harmful to the enamel as well, in addition, Benz pointed out that efficiency of rinsing with coconut oil has not been proven yet.
Furthermore, Dirk Krupp, dentist and CEO of the German Pro Dent initiative to protect teeth health, said that whitening strips and pastes contain hydrogen peroxide, which does whiten teeth but with limited effectiveness, because they contain a small percentage of hydrogen peroxide, estimated at 0.1%, according to legal regulations.
Krupp added that neither LED nor UV lights are effective yet and recommended getting a professional cleaning by a dentist twice a year to restore the white colour and get rid of the accumulated dirt and calcareous deposits, which make the colour of your teeth lighter.
After that, you can have a dentist whiten your teeth, as dentists are allowed to use hydrogen peroxide with a higher concentration of 0.1 to 6%.
References: DPA
