Did you know that in the year 2015, Americans
spent over 11 million dollars on products and procedures to get their teeth whitened?
That’s a pretty steep dental bill, so it’s no surprise that many people consider maintaining
a perfectly white smile a top priority.
If your pearly whites are starting to fade, then don’t despair just yet: even if you
don’t want to break the bank on expensive or potentially dangerous chemicals and procedures,
there are still plenty of natural ways you can aim for a whiter and brighter smile.
Here are just a few of the ways in which you can lighten up your teeth the natural way.
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Baking Soda More than just a simple ingredient for baked
goods, baking soda has a million and one uses around the house.
As it turns out, baking soda may even be useful for whitening your teeth.
In fact, baking soda is a popular ingredient used in many commercial brands of toothpaste
for this very reason.
In addition to scrubbing away the surface stains and plaque that tend to build up on
your teeth, the alkaline properties of baking soda also help kill off any bacteria in your
mouth that can potentially contribute to yellowing and tooth decay.
To use baking soda as a teeth whitening agent, all you have to do is mix two teaspoons of
water with one teaspoon of baking soda, and brush your teeth with the resulting paste.
We should mention, however, while toothpaste brands containing baking soda have been proven
to be more effective than those without, there’s not a lot of concrete proof which suggests
that pure baking soda on its own is just as effective.
But hey, if you wake up in the morning and realize you forgot to buy toothpaste the night
before, maybe baking soda can make for an effective substitute in a pinch.
2.
Apple Cider Vinegar While pure apple cider vinegar might not be
the tastiest thing in the world (or maybe it is for you, we don’t judge), we can’t
deny the positive impact that this vinegar has on your oral and dental health.
The main ingredient found within apple cider vinegar is acetic acid, which functions as
both a natural disinfectant as well as a ruthlessly efficient bacteria killer; like baking soda,
this means that apple cider vinegar is highly effective at cleaning out harmful bacteria
from your mouth and preventing the germs from getting a foothold.
However, don’t start rinsing religiously with vinegar just yet, as not all of the news
here is good: due to its highly acidic nature, apple cider vinegar can potentially soften
your teeth and cause damage to the protective enamel layer that covers them, In order to
minimize this risk of damage, make sure you dilute the vinegar in water and rinse your
mouth out with plain water after using this homemade mouthwash.
Also, try to avoid using apple cider vinegar as mouthwash every day, as that will increase
the chance of lasting damage as well.
3.
Fruits and Vegetables By incorporating certain types of fruits and
veggies into your diet, you can also help give your teeth an extra bit of whitening
boost thanks to the natural properties of these foods.
Crunchy fibrous fruits and vegetables can help to break down plaque as you chew, and
some types of plant based foods such as strawberries can potentially make your teeth a little bit
brighter thanks to their natural content of malic acid.
Similar claims have been made about pineapple as well, as this spiky fruit contains an enzyme
known as bromelain that is used as an ingredient in certain brands of toothpaste.
Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot of concrete proof that suggests these fruits
are particularly better for your teeth compared to others, but there are still plenty of other
health related reasons to incorporate an adequate serving of fruits and veggies into your daily
meal plan.
4.
Oil Pulling Don’t worry, this technique isn’t quite
as painful as it sounds.
Originating in India, oil pulling is a natural folk remedy created to detox the body and
improve oral hygiene.
This technique usually consists of rinsing out your mouth with either sunflower, sesame
or coconut oil in order to kill off the bacteria residing in your mouth which can potentially
cause buildups of plaque and gingivitis.
Like our previous point, there is not a whole lot of scientific evidence to back up the
claim that rinsing with oil will make your teeth noticeably whiter; however, this technique
is completely harmless with no potential risk or unwanted side effects, meaning that you
should feel free to give it a try without any fear of consequences.
5.
Hydrogen Peroxide While this very scientific sounding name might
make you picture a bubbling beaker sitting on some master chemist’s workbench, hydrogen
peroxide is actually an ingredient found within a number of different products aimed at whitening
teeth.
Like most of the other options on this list so far, hydrogen peroxide kills bacteria;
it also happens to be a natural bleaching agent as well, which means that it can potentially
give your teeth a brighter sheen than before.
However, there are a few safety concerns regarding hydrogen peroxide that may make you want to
rethink using it: namely, hydrogen peroxide can potentially irritate your gums and make
your teeth more sensitive with overuse.
If you’re going to try this method out, make sure you only use hydrogen peroxide diluted
in water, and only a few times every week to avoid damaging your enamel.
While all five of the items on this list so far can prove to be effective at whitening
your teeth, you shouldn’t view them as complete replacements for good old fashioned oral and
dental hygiene.
Just because you’re rinsing your mouth with coconut oil doesn’t mean that gives you
an excuse to get out of brushing and flossing every day.
Additionally, you can help maintain the whiteness of your teeth by stopping them from yellowing
before they start.
You can do this by avoiding sugary foods as well as foods that are known to leave stains
on the teeth, as well as by making sure your diet has an adequate amount of foods that
are high in calcium.
For those of you who have tried some other home solutions for teeth whitening, what has
worked for you in the past and what hasn’t?
We’re interested in hearing your experiences and feedback, so be sure to let us know in
the comment section below and help us keep the conversation going.