The Doctor is In: Teeth whitening trends to avoid

Teeth whitening is a great way to brighten your smile and boost your self-confidence. But there are a few trends that doctors say can be more harmful than helpful.

To talk about the most effective and healthy way to brighten your smile Kori Lamberg from Bridge Community Health Clinic joined Sunrise 7.

According to the American Dental Association "whitening" is any process that will make teeth appear whiter. This can be achieved in two ways. A product can bleach the tooth, which means that it actually changes the natural tooth color. Bleaching products contain peroxide(s) that help remove deep (intrinsic) and surface (extrinsic) stains. By contrast, non-bleaching whitening products contain agents that work by physical or chemical action to help remove surface stains only.

Lamberg says there are several whitening trays, toothpastes and strips that are approved by the ADA designed to improve tooth appearance by removing surface stains.

The ADA recommends that if you choose to use a bleaching product, you should only do so after consultation with a dentist.

She recommends staying away from trendy DIY options such as coconut oil, baking soda, peroxide and charcoal. In the end, Lamberg says those "at home" remedies either don't work or could end up wearing down on the enamel on your teething, ultimately doing more harm than good.