According to a recent report, Americans spend over 1 billion dollars on teeth whitening and tooth cavity treatment products every year. These products might be able to whiten teeth, but they can also damage them because they are made out of a boatload of chemicals, which can spoil or stain your smile. But if you use natural products, you just might spare yourself from these unpleasant side effects. Here are some ways to naturally whiten your teeth without using harmful chemicals.
Brushing your teeth is one of the best ways to keep your teeth shining bright. If you have been brushing but your teeth are still yellowish, try brushing more often, especially after meals or drinks. However, do not brush immediately after consuming acidic food or beverages as these might lead to erosion. Give your smile extra glamor with whitening toothpaste. These products come with mild adhesives that help remove tough stains from the teeth surfaces.
Oil pulling is a traditional remedy for whitening teeth used by Indians. This technique can also improve hygiene and overall health. To perform this procedure, you simply have to take a tablespoon of oil and swish it around your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes. You can use any kind of oil, but coconut, sesame, and sunflower oil are mostly used. Oil pulling is useful because it helps remove many kinds of bacteria from the mouth, which can cause teeth yellowing and plaque formation.
Baking soda is known to possess whitening properties, making it a prevalent ingredient in toothpaste. It can rub off stains from the tooth surface because of its mildly abrasive nature. On the other hand, hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent that helps kill bacteria. To make the most of their teeth-whitening effect, create a paste with one tablespoon of baking soda and two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide and use it as you would regular toothpaste.
The peels of banana, orange, and lemon contain citric acid, which theoretically helps with teeth whitening. To do this home remedy, take a peel of your choice and gently rub it on your teeth for about 2 minutes before thoroughly washing it off your mouth. Finish it off by brushing your teeth as you would normally do. If you have any tooth sensitivity issues, chances are the enamel of your teeth has worn off or is already weak. In such cases, this remedy might not be the best option for you.
Crunchy fruits and vegetables can rub off plaque from the teeth as you chew them. They are not replacements for brushing the teeth but any kind of remedy is a great remedy if it gives the expected results. Plus, fruits and vegetables are known to be useful for your overall health. Two fruits that have been claimed of being effective in whitening teeth are strawberry and pineapple. Pineapples contain an enzyme called bromelain that removes stains, while strawberries have malic acid that removes discoloration from the teeth.
If none of the above-mentioned remedies seem to work for you and your teeth remain or continue to be yellowish and stained, it might be time for you to get a professional to handle your problem. Your dentist can recommend several non-natural options to help you with your problem. The most common examples include dental implants or veneers, which have been proven by many to remedy teeth of poor color or health. Talk to them to learn what option is the best for your particular case.