Highsnobiety

We may spend most of our time talking about designer garms and fresh kicks, but we know there’s a whole lot more to looking good than what you’re packing in your closet. Groom Service is your no-BS guide in how to look, smell, and feel better. This week, we explain how to safely whiten your teeth.

Whitening your teeth is totally unnatural. Whereas a good brushing and flossing regimen can prevent discoloration, you’ve got to take more serious methods to remove existing stains. This typically involves strips and gels loaded with hydrogen peroxide, which helps to break apart the discolored molecules on the surface of your teeth. The process makes your smile brighter, but it also strips your teeth's enamel and compromises gum tissue.

If you want to whiten your teeth safely and effectively, there are a few things you should know before you start. We got the most important advice on the matter from dentist Dr. Su T. Kang, owner of The Smile chain of dental centers in Kentucky. Here are his five tips for getting things right. Follow them closely and you’ll be on your way to a whiter smile without the worries.

Pay attention to hydrogen peroxide levels

With so many options for at-home whitening, it’s hard to know which will whiten your teeth with minimal damage to your teeth and gums. Dr. Kang notes that the worst ones are those with extremely high hydrogen peroxide levels (around 22-to-25 percent). “At this level of concentration, you can burn your soft tissue and cause permanent damage to your soft tissue as well as the hard tissue,” he says.

Instead, try something closer to half that level of H2O2. Dr. Kang recommends Opalescence Go, which comes in both 10 percent and 15 percent hydrogen peroxide versions. It might still be too concentrated for people with sensitive teeth, and if that’s the case for you, consult a dentist to find the best alternative. If you do have sensitive teeth and use a whitener with high levels of H2O2, you'll find drinking cold or acidic drinks fairly painful for a few days afterward.

Avoid your vices for a day or more

Dr. Kang says you need to wait at least 12 hours after whitening before your enamel tubules close. If you consume things like coffee, red wine, cola, ketchup, steak sauce, or even smoke the day after whitening, the dyes and colors from these things can settle in the tubules and quickly spoil your freshly brightened chompers. “If you wouldn't eat it on your white couch, then don’t eat it right after bleaching,” Dr. Kang says. “But, if you have to drink [something like that], please use a straw.”

Don’t overdo it

Now, a couple of things to remember. You’re temporarily compromising the strength of your gums and enamel when you whiten your teeth. So you need to pay attention to sensitivity and know when to dial it back or stop altogether. Dr. Kang says it’s as simple as using common sense.

“If you are sensitive above and beyond what you can tolerate, please do not bleach anymore,” he says, adding to wait two-to-three days between re-bleaching and to never wear whitening trays overnight. “You will damage your gums’ soft tissue more than your teeth.”

If you’re unsure, leave it to a professional

If you want more noticeable results faster, it’s best to visit your dentist and have the procedure done there. That’s because a professional with hygienists will safely shield your gums from the whitening formula, allowing them to use a much higher grade of hydrogen peroxide (35 percent in some cases). They might even use an ultraviolet light as a way to activate the whitening agents, which isn’t something you're likely to have at home.

Dr. Kang also notes that dentists will often reapply the gel every 20-to-30 minutes, meaning you'll have the most potent product on your grill for longer.

Mind how often you do it — and your age

Dr. Kang says you should never bleach more than four times a year at home with lower levels of hydrogen peroxide and twice a year at a clinic with the higher grades of hydrogen peroxide. He adds that nobody under 18 should whiten their teeth because your dentition — the development and alignment of your teeth — hasn’t yet matured. Similarly, those under 25 should proceed with caution for the same reason.

Next, here's what you need to know about manicures and pedicures for men.

We Recommend
  • Off-White™ debuts BLACK by Popular Demand runway show during Paris Fashion Week with Creative Director Ib Kamara
    Play High Fashion Games, Win High Fashion Prizes with Off-White™ FW24
    • Style
    • sponsored
  • Jeremy Allen White at the farmer's market carrying a tote bag full of flowers
    Big Fits, Bigger Flowers: Jeremy Allen White Is Always at the Farmer's Market
    • Style
  • wc
    Punk Lives On: White Claw™ 0% Alcohol & Overthrow Boxing Celebrate a Timeless Attitude
    • Culture
    • sponsored
  • harvey nichols sale
    This Sale Has 60% off Helmut Lang, Off-White™ & More
    • Style
  • Jeremy Allen White Calvin Klein campaign
    Jeremy Allen White Inaugurated As Internet's Reigning Short King
    • Style
  • Image on Highsnobiety
What To Read Next
  • Nike air max wallet
    This Ain't an Air Max Sneaker. It's Nike's Newest Accessory
    • Sneakers
  • nike air max day 2024 releases
    Nike Air Max Day 2024: Everything Air Lovers Need to Know
    • Sneakers
  • Yayoi Kusama x Louis Vuitton
    In an Era of Collaboration Saturation, How Do Brands Stand Out?
    • Style
  • END. x HOKA sneaker collaboration 2024.
    Can Anyone Stop HOKA?
    • Sneakers
  • Willy Chavarria FW24 Parfums de Marly
    For FW24, Fashion Got Fragrant
    • Beauty
  • comme des garcons new balance 610 snaekers
    COMME des GARÇONS' Dropping the Perfect New Balance Slip-On
    • Sneakers
*If you submitted your e-mail address and placed an order, we may use your e-mail address to inform you regularly about similar products without prior explicit consent. You can object to the use of your e-mail address for this purpose at any time without incurring any costs other than the transmission costs according to the basic tariffs. Each newsletter contains an unsubscribe link. Alternatively, you can object to receiving the newsletter at any time by sending an e-mail to info@highsnobiety.com

Web Accessibility Statement

Titel Media GmbH (Highsnobiety), is committed to facilitating and improving the accessibility and usability of its Website, www.highsnobiety.com. Titel Media GmbH strives to ensure that its Website services and content are accessible to persons with disabilities including users of screen reader technology. To accomplish this, Titel Media GmbH tests, remediates and maintains the Website in-line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which also bring the Website into conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Disclaimer

Please be aware that our efforts to maintain accessibility and usability are ongoing. While we strive to make the Website as accessible as possible some issues can be encountered by different assistive technology as the range of assistive technology is wide and varied.

Contact Us

If, at any time, you have specific questions or concerns about the accessibility of any particular webpage on this Website, please contact us at accessibility@highsnobiety.com, +49 (0)30 235 908 500. If you do encounter an accessibility issue, please be sure to specify the web page and nature of the issue in your email and/or phone call, and we will make all reasonable efforts to make that page or the information contained therein accessible for you.