The Biggest “Don’t” of DIY Whitening: A Letter From Your Teeth

Dear Host,

You have been looking in the mirror a lot lately, eyeing me suspiciously. I’ve even noticed that you have picked up an ad for a teeth whitening solution and even visited your dentist’s website page about whitening. I know what you are thinking.

And I am thrilled! If you want to shine me up so you can show me off, I am A-okay with that! I wouldn’t mind a bit more attention. However, there is one thing that has me a bit worried.

I noticed you googling “DIY teeth whitening” the other day. Some of the solutions you viewed—they may make me brighter, but it is not going to feel good. I only have so much enamel; some of that stuff might take off the yellow but it is going to take off everything else with it too. After a treatment like that, I won’t love eating ice cream or crisp apples anymore and I will hope you don’t have much to smile about in the winter because the cold air will hurt. It is frightening to me especially because I don’t think you’ve thought about those things, and you like ice cream.

The biggest “Don’t” of DIY whitening is this: “Don’t do it!”

Just talk with your dentist. The people online and even the whitening kits from the store—they don’t care about me. They care a lot about “white” and they don’t give a second thought to “health.” I know you like “white” too and there is nothing wrong with that, but please consider me. I don’t want to be in pain for the rest of my life. Call your dentist. He cares about me. He wants me to be bright and white, but he also wants me to be strong and to last you for the rest of your life. He is going to look out for all of us in here.

You have been our kind and wonderful host for many years and we don’t want to create any problems between us.

Thanks for considering our perspective.

Sincerely,

Your Teeth.