Apparently, Catherine Zeta Jones uses strawberries to keep her teeth white and bright...
Recently, a reader emailed me asking if I had heard of using strawberries to whiten teeth. "Do mushing strawberries on your teeth really work or should I go the bleaching route? And if I do, is it safe? Do those whitening strips work? Or should I spend the bucks for professional bleaching? Help!" she wrote.
I have heard of the strawberries-for-whitening-teeth trick -- apparently, some Hollywood actors use it -- but I've never tried it. And I don't know much about teeth bleaching -- but I knew the perfect person to ask: Dr. Wilson Kwong. Dr. Kwong is a top cosmetic dentist who has been helping people achieve healthy beautiful smiles for the past 20 years. Based in Vancouver, he shares his expertise in New York, London and California, and has earned an international reputation as a leader in the industry. In other words, this man knows teeth. We chatted recently on what makes a smile beautiful. Here's part of our interview, where I got the scoop on teeth bleaching and side-effects; do-it-yourself-versus-professional treatments; and how white is too white!
BeautyCosmopolite
Teeth bleaching is so popular these days! Is it a big part of your practice?
Dr. Wilson Kwong
Teeth whitening is a big part of my practice because people want it. In my office, it's a non-profit endeavour -- it's so competitive now, there's just not a lot of profit to do it. What we're trying to do is motivate people, through the use of bleaching, to keep their teeth healthy. Appearance is an emotional trigger-point for most people -- if someone is happy with their smile, they are more apt to take care of it.
BC
I've heard that teeth bleaching can lead to problems. How safe is it really, and are there side-effects?
WK
What we call teeth "bleaching" has been in use for about 20 years -- the active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide, not bleach. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into oxygen and water. Are there free radicals being released? Yes. There are also free radicals in barbecued foods, for example. Overall, the safety of this procedure is pretty good.
The number one side effect is irritation to the tooth, which means sensitivity. That can be controlled through the use of desensitizing agents.
BC
How about compromising the actual tooth enamel?
WK
Science hasn't shown that to occur. Obviously, ill-use and abuse can cause damage, probably more to the soft tissue than the teeth themselves. I had one patient use a whole dentist-office prescribed kit in three days! It was not something that was instructed. Sometimes people go a little overboard in what they feel is 'white' and use too much.
BC
Speaking of, can teeth be too white? I met someone a while back who had such stark-white teeth that they were actually a distraction from her pretty features. I don't think her super-bright level of whiteness could have been a result of bleaching, though -- I'm guessing veneers?
WK
If someone asked for veneers, for example, that were really icy-white, I would counsel them about it. Most patients listen. Together, we take into consideration everything from complexion to personality. That being said, people have different ideas about how they want their teeth to look. I think teeth look really good when the person is comfortable with them. The goal is to create a smile that makes the person feel confident, because a confident smile is what makes a beautiful smile!
BC
Are the drugstore, over-the-counter whitening kits safe and do they work?
WK
Yes, they're very safe. They are weaker than the ones we prescribe in the office. They work better on younger people who still have fairly white teeth and just want some brightening. The effects will last a few months. The over-the-counter kits don't work as well for older people who have more staining.
BC
When would you advise professional teeth-whitening versus a do-it-yourself kit?
WK
It really depends on budget. The office procedure is faster and better, and the results last longer, up to a year. Over time it can actually be less expensive. And you can't really get the same result with drugstore kits. But there is no big difference in safety between the two options.
BC
How can we keep our teeth white naturally?
WK
Teeth age with us, and generally get a little darker due to the micro-fractures we create as we use our teeth that allow staining. I've heard of people using lemon and other acidic foods to naturally bleach their teeth. I have no problems with people trying that if they want to. If it works, great!
BC
Have you heard of whitening your teeth with strawberries? Apparently, the malic acid acts as an astringent to remove the surface discolouration. The suggestion is to mash one strawberry with baking soda and apply for five minutes. How safe is this -- assuming you thoroughly brush your teeth afterward of course!
WK
Acid will corrode and erode teeth and teeth matter -- that's how cavities occur. I'm not really recommending that people use anything acidic because it does break down enamel. That being said, our saliva has a natural buffering action against acid. And thoroughly flossing and brushing your teeth after trying something like this is really important. I wouldn't suggest using this method very often.
BC
Speaking of natural methods to remove stains, what do you think about brushing with baking soda?
WK
What you're trying to do with this is use an abrasive source to physically scratch off any debris. However, microscopically, you might be creating little fractures, which will then enhance staining possibilities. You want the teeth to be as smooth as possible, and to use a non-abrasive toothpaste.
BC
You have a great smile and beautiful teeth -- do you bleach them?
WK
Yes!
So there you go. If anyone has tried any of these whitening methods, I'd love to hear how you felt about the results! Thanks to the reader who asked about a topic that a lot of people are interested in. And many thanks to Dr. Wilson Kwong! You can find out more about Dr. Kwong on his Smiles Are Beautiful website.
I've been thinking about getting my teeth bleached, but I didn't know it was only temporary and you have to keep doing it! In that case I have to admit I'm tempted to try the strawberry thing, even though Dr Kwong says the acid isn't good to sit on the teeth, oh dear. Maybe I just live with less than pearly teeth??
Posted by: GG | June 15, 2009 at 11:24 PM
The strips don't work, they just can't bleach through my red-wine and coffee stains, and I'm not giving those pleasures up for glossy teeth. Off to the dentist's chair for me!
Posted by: O | June 16, 2009 at 09:45 AM
Hi GG - maybe give the strawberry procedure a try, I've heard it really does work! Dr. Kwong didn't say not to do it -- afterall, we eat 'acidy' foods all the time -- although I know he wouldn't recommend letting acidy foods (or any food matter) sit on your teeth on a regular basis. The big thing is to brush and floss afterward to make sure it's all off... If you decide to try it, let me know how it goes!
Posted by: BeautyCosmopolite | June 16, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Hi O -- I'm sure the professional treatment at your dentist's office will make a big difference on those stains. Thanks for the feedback on the strips!
Posted by: BeautyCosmopolite | June 16, 2009 at 11:41 AM
I haven't tried any of these, but my friend used one of those bleaching kits (sorry, I don't know if it was over-the-counter or dentist prescription) and she couldn't stand it, said it actually felt painful on her teeth and she couldn't finish the treatment! It's sort of scared me off trying it!
Have you tried any of these bleaching treatments and if so, which would you recommend?
Posted by: T. | June 16, 2009 at 02:05 PM
Hi T - No, I've never tried bleaching my teeth -- I have sensitive teeth, so, like you, the idea that whitening procedures could increase the sensitivity doesn't appeal to me...
If I were going to try something, it would probably be the strawberry method -- but I wouldn't tell my dentist, haha. ;-) I try to keep my teeth in good shape with other methods, will post about that later this week. Thanks for the feedback on your friend's experience!
Posted by: BeautyCosmopolite | June 16, 2009 at 05:48 PM
Um, sorry if this is sort of off-topic since I'm not commenting on my bleaching experiences but rather just raising the question of why everyone's so hyped on having glaring white teeth? Healthy teeth, yes. But your dentist did say that free radicals are released, it causes sensitivity, and that's the least of it, so it's not exactly a really healthy thing to be doing, right? I understand the allure of white teeth but maybe we're going too far with this desire for white-white teeth? Just putting it out there...
Posted by: Beth | June 16, 2009 at 11:33 PM
Hi Beth - thanks for putting that question out there -- I actually posed a very similar one to Dr. Kwong myself! As he said, no one "needs" white teeth -- and he doesn't necessarily believe that perfectly white teeth are necessary to a beautiful smile. His feeling is that confidence makes a beautiful smile -- and some people, who feel their teeth are stained or dull in colour, may be less apt to smile confidently, which affects their appearance and their overall sense of well-being. Many people definitely appreciate a bit of a "smile boost" through whitening procedures!
Like most cosmetic procedures, there are some risks involved -- so it's worthwhile to try to maintain a smile you're happy with through regular maintenance... and also to question whether we need to follow that "Hollywood standard" of super-white teeth... but that's another post! :-) Thanks for raising a really interesting question!
Posted by: BeautyCosmopolite | June 17, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Just for the record, I had my teeth professionally whitened and I'm THRILLED with the results! There was some initial sensitivity but it went away. People have been telling me that I look like I've been on vacation. They're not noticing glaring white teeth, jsut an improvement in my appearance!
Posted by: WS | June 17, 2009 at 03:32 PM
That's great to hear the professional whitening treatment worked out so well for you, WS! That's the best kind of compliment -- when someone doesn't notice what you've 'done', just that you look good. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: BeautyCosmopolite | June 17, 2009 at 06:27 PM
I've also had the professional whitening done. I had the mold made at the dentist office and buy whitening gel whenever I want a touch up. My dentist recommended starting only with the top tray so I could see the results before committing to the bottom as well. He said results can vary depending on your teeth--some just don't whiten up. I found my gums were sensitive because the gel is quite strong, but the results were quick and noticeable. I only do it about once a year to keep my smile looking refreshed, but still natural. I never did get the bottom tray done--my gums are really sensitive so I didn't want to risk irritating them. I do use the drugstore white strips on my lower teeth occasionally so there isn't a noticeable difference. They work too, just not as fast. I think if you have a great smile, you really don't need a lot of make-up, so it's definitely something I plan to continue.
Posted by: LC | June 20, 2009 at 01:21 PM
Hi LC - it sounds like a lot of people are happy with the professional whitening kits! Thanks for sharing your experience and how you found the professional kit versus the strips. And I agree with you -- a great smile definitely beautifies the face more than make-up! :-)
Posted by: BeautyCosmopolite | June 20, 2009 at 01:49 PM