There Are So Many Ways…

There Are So Many Ways To Whiten Your Teeth, And Yet Only One Safe Way To Do It

1st April 2022

Grooming is a world filled with jargon, technicalities and insider knowledge – some of it true, a lot of it bluster.

That’s where the Grooming Glossary comes in: a brand new series that drops the science on the world of skincare and haircare so you can self-care better – and with the know-how to separate the wheat from the chai-infused anti-aging miracle potion. This week, debunking the little white lies of teeth whitening.

Since the dawn of time, whiter teeth have implied fuller bank accounts. Take those marshmallow mouthed dandies trotted around Victorian London, all of them safe in the knowledge that they could afford powdered cuttlefish to keep their smiles intact (not that anyone did much smiling back then). And as for the ragamuffins scraping together an existence in Whitechapel? To the workhouse with you, Coco Pops! Some 5,000 years earlier, the Ancient Egyptians were at it too with a combination of crushed rock salt, mint and iris flowers. Pharaoh’s club only, mind.

Luckily, the masses can afford a bit of Colgate these days. But the desire for whiter, brighter teeth gleams on, fuelled by Hollywood and other handsome people on Instagram – a place in which DIY teeth whitening kits, like whey proteins and crushed velour headboards, are now part of the furniture.

Don’t buy into it, says Dr Ahmed Hussain, aesthetic dentist and principle practitioner at Harrow On The Hill Dental Practice. “Your social media feeds may show you that it’s possible to purchase peroxide-based products to bleach your teeth, but I strongly urge you not to give into the temptation. Most of these products won’t make a lasting difference, and they can cause damage to the gums and leave your teeth patchy in colour if they’re not administered properly.” Love Islanders hawking teeth whitening kits are, of course, on the right side of the law, but they’re not exactly trained to be dishing out this sort of endorsement. “It’s actually illegal for anyone who isn’t a dental professional to provide teeth whitening for a reason,” says Hussain. “Medical professionals ensure you receive a safe dosage in a practice, or with a special, professional, approved kit to use at home.”…

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