Teeth Whitening Tips For Teens

If you’re a teenager, you probably see a lot of perfect pearly whites grinning at you from your Insta or Snapchat accounts. This may prompt you to want whiter teeth yourself, but you might be unsure of exactly how to go about it. Should you opt for a homemade strategy, one of the many products you see at the drug store, or a full-fledged teeth whitening kit? We asked a panel of professionals to share their favorite teen-friendly teeth whitening strategies. Read on to learn more.

Amanda Napitu

Amanda Napitu, Contributor at Dentaly.org. Her aim is to make oral health care easier to understand for everyone.

Teeth whitening kit

There are many reasons why your teeth might not be as white as you'd like. Maybe they are just naturally a bit yellow; maybe they are stained because of the foods and drinks you consume, or because of a medical condition. Or perhaps your oral hygiene is not as good as it could be.

Before you think about whitening your teeth, have a dental checkup and teeth cleaning to remove any plaque and tartar. This alone can make them look much brighter! Your hygienist will give you some tips for keeping your teeth clean and will check for problems like gum disease.

Providing your teeth and gums are healthy, you can consider a teeth whitening kit or professional dental whitening. It's always a good idea to discuss whitening options with your dentist, but if you can't afford their prices, whitening kits are a good alternative as long as you follow the instructions. Don't be tempted to use them for longer or more often than stated - this can damage your teeth and lead to expensive and painful dental problems later in life.

Some teeth whitening kits say they are suitable for use from age 9 or 10, but it's best to wait until you've had all your permanent (adult) teeth for at least 2 years. It takes this long for your enamel to harden properly, making your teeth less sensitive to bleaching.

Adrienne Carrie-Hubbard

Adrienne Carrie-Hubbard

Adrienne Carrie-Hubbard is a mother as well as a travel and lifestyle blogger, Hubbard Family Travels.

My recommendations.

Coconut oil pulling, which is basically using one tablespoon of the oil and pushing and pulling it through the teeth. The lauric acid in it reduces inflammation and plaque and kills bacteria.

Brushing your teeth with baking soda. It has natural whitening properties and is very effective in removing stains. I mix around 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 2 teaspoons of water and use it as a paste.

Kelly Hancock

Kelly Hancock

Kelly Hancock is a dental hygienist and oral health care lover at Toothbrush Life. She is passionate about oral hygiene. She has been working in the dental profession for 16 years and worked in many different roles in the dental industry.

Always brush and floss

As a pediatric dental hygienist, the question I am asked most often by my teenage patients is how can I whiten my teeth?

I always advise parents to not allow their teenagers to start whitening their teeth until about two years after all of their permanent teeth have fully erupted. This allows the teeth to develop more and causes less sensitivity and damage to the teeth.

A super easy way for teenagers to whiten their teeth at home is to make a paste out of baking soda and water and then brush their teeth with it. Do this every few days for a great DIY natural teeth whitener. Baking soda is very mildly abrasive and does not damage the enamel. Most people see great results with just one brush. Bonus points for baking soda because it also creates an alkaline environment in the mouth which helps inhibit bacteria from growing.

Once a teenager is ready to start whitening their teeth, a good place to start is by using drugstore whitening strips and whitening toothpaste. This will remove surface stains and can be very low cost with minimal sensitivity.

If once they begin whitening they start to experience sensitivity, they can stop their whitening treatment for a few days and brush with a sensitive toothpaste.

Always drink through a straw to limit the contact on the teeth with a liquid that could cause staining. Avoid foods that are dark in colors such as berries, plums, and dark liquids. Always brush and floss daily to avoid plaque and calculus buildup which can cause the teeth to appear yellow.

This is a crowdsourced article. Contributors are not necessarily affiliated with this website and their statements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of this website, other people, businesses, or other contributors.