Are you worried about the increasingly darkened or yellowish appearance of your teeth? Is it making you self-conscious in social settings and not letting you smile confidently? If you answered: “hell yeah”, you’re not alone – teeth staining is a common problem experienced by billions worldwide.
Thankfully, we have numerous teeth whitening solutions at our avail today for getting rid of those pesky teeth stains. While over-the-counter products like whitening gels, strips, etc. are usually effective, but most of them make use of few chemicals to bleach teeth – which poses a serious concern for many users. On the other hand, not everyone is able to afford spending too much time and money for an in-office professional whitening treatment at the dentist’s! This is where natural home remedies for teeth whitening comes into the picture.
Below, we will be discussing some tried-and-tested, effective ways for naturally whitening your teeth from the comfort of your home:
1 - Consume Stain-Removing Foods
Chewing crunchy, fibrous fruits and vegetables, such as apples, raw carrots, kiwis, and celery, works wonders for stain removal. In addition, it also helps in removing plaque from your teeth. Similarly, pineapples contain an enzyme named bromelain, enabling them to act as natural stain-removers. Incorporate these natural whitening items into your daily diet, and trying to have them immediately after eating or drinking a stain-causing food or beverage (For knowing about the top stain-inducing foods and drinks, read this article).
At times, discoloration of teeth also happens due to wearing of enamel. To prevent enamel erosion, eat calcium-rich dairy foods, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, which also help in remineralizing the enamel.
2 - Oil Pulling
Rooted in Ayurvedic medicine, oil pulling is a traditional oral care technique that involves swishing a mouthful of oil. This practice helps in “pulling out” (removing) stains and many types of harmful bacteria from the mouth. These bacteria, if not removed, could lead to formation of plaque and gradually turn our teeth yellowish.
Oil pulling can be practiced once every day in the morning or night, before brushing. One may practice this technique using coconut oil, sesame oil, or sunflower oil (choose any one). It’s pretty simple – take a teaspoon of oil, squish it around in your mouth for roughly 15 minutes, and then spit it out.
3 - Baking Soda for Oral Care
Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate), with its inherent teeth whitening properties, is a powerful agent when it comes to lifting surface stains from one’s teeth. Moreover, it can create an alkaline environment within your mouth, conducive for stopping bacterial growth.
One may use baking soda as a tooth powder, rubbing it onto the teeth for about a minute and thereafter rinsing off with plain water. Alternatively, it may be used to create a DIY baking soda paste at home. For doing this, just mix one teaspoon baking soda with two teaspoons of water to create a thick paste, and then brush your teeth with it, up to two times a week.
4 - Scrub Teeth Using Fruit Peels
We usually throw away the fruit peel after eating a fruit. But what if we told you that the peel could be used for teeth whitening? Yes, the peels of certain citrus fruits like orange and lemon contain citric acid and essential minerals such as magnesium and potassium – which makes them effective for cleansing and whitening of teeth.
Rub the underside of the fruit peel gently against your teeth for a while, and then leave it about 2 minutes. Next, brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with water. This is a method that can be practiced once daily.
Please note: Some other popular so-called natural teeth whitening techniques include: using apple cider vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, activated charcoal, turmeric, and sea salt. But these methods lack evidence vis-à-vis their efficacy in teeth whitening; on the contrary, some of them have been found to be harmful for oral health. This is why we at Fang DO NOT RECOMMEND practicing these techniques.
Additional Recommendations and Final Thoughts
While all the four above-mentioned at-home natural teeth whitening remedies are safe and convenient options for making your teeth sparkle without burning a hole in your pocket, we suggest NOT TO USE multiple methods simultaneously.
It is important to keep in mind that these home remedies work quite slowly, and none of them shall be able to give you dramatic whitening results overnight. So, stick to any one of these methods for at least a couple of months, and keep observing and tracking how it is benefitting you. But, in case you start experiencing any adverse side effects such as teeth sensitivity or gum irritation, stop using the technique immediately and consult your doctor.
Lastly, none of these home remedies can (or should) serve as a replacement for embracing a proper preventive oral care routine at home, which includes brushing and flossing daily, and avoiding sugary foods/beverages and tobacco consumption.
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