I'm a dentist – here's the scary reason you should never use teeth whitening toothpaste

The post states that the pearlescent pastes “remove external stains by scrubbing away layers of tooth enamel, which can initially make your teeth appear whiter.”

However, they point out that the benefits are short-lived: “Over time, this leads to thinner, yellower and more sensitive teeth.”

Not surprisingly, they recommend in-office teeth whitening to manage sensitivity and ensure long-lasting results.

In addition to warning patients about the dangers of at-home teeth whitening, the Rifkin team has also released additional videos on how to properly floss and how a dentist accidentally invented acrylic nails.

TikTok is a hotbed — or gaping mouth — for dental care hacks, where users share disturbing methods for a whiter, brighter smile, including the amazing use of a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

“The Magic Eraser grinds away the discolored enamel layer with a highly abrasive surface. While this may initially make teeth appear whiter in a short TikTok video, the long-term consequences of enamel wear can lead to discolored, sensitive and, in rare cases, cracked or chipped teeth,” warned Australian dental surgeon Dr. Heath Fraser.

Another dangerous method? Applying hydrogen peroxide directly to teeth, which Fraser says poses a serious risk to long-term dental health.

“Applying high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide to teeth and gums poses an irreversible risk to the health of your teeth and can lead to sensitive teeth and irritated gums and lips,” explains Fraser.

He admits that while dentists often use hydrogen peroxide as a bleaching agent, “the concentration and application is much safer when done by a professional. Whiter teeth do not necessarily mean healthy teeth.”

Other TikTok users swear by raw charcoal as a whitening agent and post their dramatic before-and-after shots.

Frasier, however, stressed that this approach was also problematic.

“Charcoal is an incredibly abrasive surface that can cause a yellow appearance and sensitivity in the long run. Ironically, initial results may show whiter teeth, but using highly abrasive surfaces on teeth wears away the enamel and exposes the yellow dentin underneath, causing teeth to appear permanently yellower.”