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How to safely whiten your teeth at home

DIY is a great thing and has helped many people find a quick fix for their problems over the years. They can get you out of a pickle while saving you money. In most cases, these might be a great solution, but they can cause more harm than good in terms of dental hygiene. 

Teeth can become discolored and deeply stained over time for various reasons. Most of these are lifestyle choices that can yellow your teeth in no time. Foods and drinks with coloring and smoking are the most common reasons. Not only that, but poor dental hygiene is a massive reason for this as well. 

Why over the counter products don’t work?

Most over-the-counter whitening kits that you can buy at a pharmacy may not get you the results that you are looking for. On top of that, if you have sensitive gums or weak enamel, these products can seriously damage your teeth and gums. 

They also take a long time to set in and only offer minimal surface whitening. They are, at best high-risk quick fixes that cannot replace Torbram Dental’s teeth cleaning and professional at-home whitening kit. Not only do you get a deep clean of your oral cavity, but you also get long-lasting results. 

Is DIY the safest route?

You must have seen ads and posts on social media and TV about the latest teeth whitening solutions in town. All of them claim to be effective, quick, and cheap to do, and you can do them from the comfort of your home. 

Baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, turmeric, fruit peels, and lemon are some of the most widely shared DIY solutions. But there is no scientific proof that these are good for your oral hygiene. Teeth whitening is not as easy as one thinks, and you can cause harm to your teeth if you do not know what you are doing. 

Using baking soda and lemon will upset the pH balance of your mouth. The acidic nature of lemon makes the enamel layer weak and may even erode some of it. Suppose you have cavities or wounds in your mouth; most over-the-counter teeth whitening kits or DIY solutions can cause complications. 

Activated charcoal has shown some promising results, but it varies from person to person. With a considerable fluctuation in the actual whitening, it is best to avoid it. It may assist with surface stains, but it is not recommended if you are looking for a deeper treatment. It is best to save your money on these solutions.  

Professional Whitening Kit

This teeth whitening at-home kit was developed to make teeth whitening an easy and effective process. Torbram Dental shares that it is an excellent and safe solution for whitening teeth at home.

How to use the Opalescence Whitening Kit

Before adding the whitening trays to your mouth, make sure you have brushed and flossed your teeth. 

In the tooth trays, pour a bit of the product into the tooth space. Make sure that you do not get the product on your gums. Remove excess product with a cotton swab or tissue.

Repeat this for the next 10-14 days, and you can do a touch-up every 6 months or so. For best results, use it overnight but wearing the trays 2-4 hours a day will also lead to good results. 

No matter what your method, one common side effect of teeth whitening is sensitivity. But adding the Sensodyne F toothpaste to your oral health regime will help you get rid of sensitivity. 

If you are using any of the above teeth whitening products, avoid tea, coffee, wine, and tobacco products until the process is completed. After the process is complete, keep the leftover Opalescence in a cool and dry place. 

For more great information, be sure to check our latest blog posts! 

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Simrit has been working at Torbram Dental since 2001. She started her career with Assisting/Treatment co-ordinating and then moved on to becoming the Hygiene Co Ordinator in 2005. In 2012 she took on a new role as the Marketing Director. Though she loved being the Marketing Director, in 2015 she became the Office Manager of Torbram Dental. She completed her Level 1 Dental Assisting program with Career Canada in 1996 and then went on to complete her Level II Dental Assisting Diploma with Southwestern Medix in 1999. That is when she received NDAEB Certification. Simrit has been and still is an active member of the Ontario Dental Assistants Association since 2000. She enjoys hiking and traveling with her husband and two kids and loves to explore new restaurants, especially high-tea venues.

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Jessica, one of our receptionists, is one of the smiling faces you see when you arrive at the office. She graduated with honours from Medix College with a diploma as a Level 2 Dental Assistant. When she is not happily helping our patients, Jessica enjoys spending quality time with her friends and family, going to church on Sunday mornings, gardening and going on hikes.

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Naudia has been working at Torbram Dental for many years and is a valued member of our administrative team: as a dental receptionist and in our marketing team . She graduated from Everest College with honours level 1 and 2, with a diploma in Dental Assisting. Naudia is always there for our patients, making sure that they receive the care and attention they deserve. When not at the office, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking and indulging in civil court TV shows.

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Ramandeep has been a part of Torbram Dental for the past 10 years as certified dental assistant. She obtained her level 1 certification from Everest college in Brampton in 2013, and then her level 2 certification in 2014 from Medix college. Her career path through the clinic has been recognized by staff at all levels who admire her work ethic and dedication to million dollar smiles. In her spare time, Ramandeep enjoys cooking and gardening, and spending time with her husband and 2 kids.

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Sana is a valued member of our dental hygiene team. In 2008 she completed her education at George Brown in Dental Assisting and in 2016 she earned her diploma in Dental Hygiene from the Canadian Academy of Dental Health and Sciences. Sana has been working in dentistry since 2008 and enjoys taking care of our patients and helping them with their oral health. She is married and is busy with her 2 young children. In her spare time, Sana enjoys going out with the family, trying out new places to eat and is looking forward to travelling with them in the future.

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Sanaria has been working at Torbram Dental for many years as a valued member of our Dental Assisting Team. She completed her level 2 dental assisting certification and previously obtained a degree in Education and worked as a quality control officer in the pharmaceutical industry. When not at work Sanaria loves to bake and cook. She also loves story time and enjoying the outdoors with her children. She always sees the positive side of life, believes that nothing is impossible and that if you set a goal and work at it, that you will make your dreams come true.

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Carrie has been working at Torbram Dental since 2001. She graduated from George Brown College in 1998 with a Dental Assistant Diploma and continued to further her education by completing a Dental Hygiene Diploma in 2001 at Durham College. Carrie is a highly trained and experienced Registered Dental Hygienist who continues to learn and grow by updating her knowledge to provide her clients with the best Oral Health Care techniques and information. Carrie is passionate about Dentistry and is known for her gentle and compassionate manner. She feels strongly about building lasting relationships and trust with her clients to help them understand that good Oral Health leads to good Overall Health. Carrie enjoys travelling, dabbling in decorating and a good Netflix series in her time off. Carrie resides in Halton Hills with her husband and two children.

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Daniela's interest in Dentistry began in Gr.6 when she wrote a speech entitled "My Life as a Toothbrush".
A Registered Dental Hygienist with 22 years of clinical experience, Daniela still has a great passion for her career. The most rewarding aspect for her is building lasting relationships with her patients, and seeing them through to a healthier smile.
Her thorough yet gentle touch will ensure a comfortable visit every time.
Daniela is a total Foodie and loves to cook and enjoys all types of cuisines. She loves Florida, Cruises, organizing things, and most of all spending time with family and friends.

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Stephanie Enjoys getting to know all new patients at Torbram Dental and catching up with long standing Patients. Stephanie enjoys spending quality time with her family. One of her favorite things to do with her daughter is teach and play the piano. Stephanie likes going on walks with her husband and enjoys spending as much time with him as he is an Active Member of the Canadian Army. On Sundays, Stephanie enjoys going to Church and looks forward to Sunday Dinner with her entire family. Stephanie's Favorite thing to do to start her day right is head to her local Starbucks and Grab her favorite drink, an iced black tea with light lemonade on warm days and a blonde vanilla latte on those cold winter days.

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As a dedicated Dental Hygienist at Torbram Dental, Aalisha brings recent knowledge and experience to ensure the best oral health for our patients. She holds a Diploma in Dental Hygiene from the Toronto College of Dental Hygiene and Auxiliaries and has further enriched her education with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo. Beyond her professional qualifications, Aalisha has a zest for life that extends beyond the dental chair. She cherishes quality time with family and friends, thrives on outdoor adventures, and has a passion for hiking and water-based activities, especially during the sunny summer days. She is an avid traveler, exploring tropical paradises and historic destinations while immersing herself in diverse cultures and indulging in delicious culinary experiences."

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Supreet was born and raised in Punjab, India and came to Canada in 2016. She graduated from Sheridan College as an Environmental Lab Technician but later decided to change her career to dentistry. She completed her Level I and II Intra-Oral Dental Assisting course from George Brown College and graduated in 2023. In July 2023, Supreet joined the team at Torbram Dental where she enjoys working. In her free time, she loves to read books.

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