A smile expresses your emotions. But if your teeth are yellow, stained or discolored, you may be self-conscious about flashing your grin to the world.<br /><br />And you’re not alone. More than 37 million Americans used teeth whiteners in 2020.<br /><br />With an array of new products and at-home remedies to keep those pearly whites top-notch, we turn to dentist Anne Clemons, DMD, for what treatments are safe to try at home.<br /><br />Can you whiten your teeth at home?<br />Yes, there are a handful of methods that may make your teeth appear whiter. But Dr. Clemons warns that some treatments come with side effects.<br /><br />“Most of the effects are temporary,” she says. “You may experience sensitivity or gum irritation.”<br /><br />Also, it’s important to understand what kind of stains you may have. Most at-home products treat extrinsic stains — discolorations on the outside of your teeth. These types of stains are caused by things like red wine, tea, coffee and smoking.<br /><br />Intrinsic stains are a result of the tooth itself being discolored, either the enamel or the dentin. Sometimes this can happen due to genetic disorders or medications you may have taken as a child. Age has a lot to do with it as well.<br /><br />“One thing that happens with aging is that the outer surface of the tooth, the white enamel, becomes thinner and the dentin, which is underneath, is yellow,” says Dr. Clemons.<br /><br />If you want to whiten your teeth, here are a few popular at-home treatments.<br /><br />Hydrogen peroxide<br />Hydrogen peroxide, which is a natural bleaching agent, can be used to whiten teeth. Bleaching is a chemical process that uses the oxidative chemical to break down color-causing molecules and change or remove those bonds. You may experience tooth sensitivity and gum inflammation.<br /><br />“Bleaching is really more specific to changing the perception of whiteness within the tooth,” says Dr. Clemons. “Bleaching is really what will change those intrinsic stains.”<br /><br />Hydrogen peroxide is typically safe to use when it’s found in products like mouthwash and toothpaste, but pay attention to how much is used.<br /><br />“Concentrations can vary a lot,” says Dr. Clemons. “Look for something that’s formulated specifically for dental use because you’re going to have a more controlled percentage of it.”<br /><br />Rather than using pure hydrogen peroxide at home (which isn’t recommended), Clemons says using a gel or whitening strips will give you safe and effective results. Just be sure to follow directions and don’t use longer than indicated.<br /><br />“What gives you a good outcome is how much contact time the peroxide has with the tooth,” she says. “Something like a gel or a strip that’s held on the tooth for a longer period of time will have better results than toothpaste or mouthwash.”<br /><br />Baking soda<br />The faithful pantry ingredient has many uses, including whitening teeth. But again, Dr. Clemons suggests looking for dental products that contain baking soda.<br /><br />“What’s nice about baking soda is that it’s actually less abrasive than a lot of other ingredients,” she says. “If you compa
