With the rise of DIY projects, people are really taking to heart an old, famous saying: If you want something done right, do it yourself. This even applies to dentistry, with some of us trying methods to whiten our teeth ourselves.  DIY projects are possible for all sorts of things, the thinking goes, so why not whitening?  It’s cheaper, faster, and more convenient than visiting a cosmetic dentist!

As great as the promises of self-whitening sound, however, they’re generally false advertising. Contrary to popular belief, DIY whitening is quite dangerous, and can have negative effects on your teeth. To avoid hurting your smile in an attempt to help it, listed below is a guide to DIY whitening dangers and why dentists are the better option.