You wake up to brush your teeth in the morning but notice yellowness in the mirror. Since you are in a hurry, you can only look for natural teeth whitening methods.
These simple methods are quick and easy. You can whiten your teeth with the ingredients present in your home. It’s time to search your kitchen to see if you ha*ve any of the ingredients needed for whitening.
So what are these ingredients and how can you begin using them? Let’s find out below!
If You Have Baking Soda
Baking soda is a household ingredient. You will easily find it in your kitchen and if it’s not there then any grocery store will have it.
Baking soda is a mild abrasive hence, it can scrub the stains that cause discoloration.
Its natural whitening properties remove surface stains present on your teeth.
What’s more, it creates an alkaline environment in which oral bacteria are discouraged to grow.
An acidic environment facilitates oral bacteria whereas an alkaline one discourages it.
You can either make a paste of baking soda with water or use a toothpaste containing sodium bicarbonate.
The whitening toothpaste that contains baking soda is slightly more effective than those that do not.
Plus, the effectiveness increases as the concentration increases. These are also more effective in removing plaque from your teeth.
Make a paste by simply mixing 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 2 teaspoons of water, or use a toothpaste with sodium bicarbonate.
You will not see instant results but the overall appearance of your teeth will improve.
Hence, continue using it a few times per week in order to notice a visible change.
If You Have Coconut Oil
You can use coconut oil, sesame oil or sunflower oil for oil pulling.
This method involves rinsing with oil to pull plaque and stains, as well as reduce oral bacteria in your mouth.
Taking a teaspoon f coconut oil, melting it and swishing it around your mouth helps to get rid of bacteria that will later accumulate and form into plaque.
You can use any sesame, sunflower or coconut oil. However, coconut is commonly used because it has a pleasant taste and also contains lauric acid.
This acid helps to reduce inflammation and also kills bacteria.
Streptococcus mutans is a bacteria that causes plaque and gingivitis.
Regularly practicing oil pulling helps to reduce the number of these bacteria in your mouth and the saliva.
While it does not directly whiten your teeth, this practice can make them brighter as it prevents the accumulation of stains.
In order to do it begin by taking a tablespoon of any of these oils and then swish it around your mouth thoroughly for 15 or 20 minutes.
That pulls away the bacteria as you keep swishing and then spit it.
Do not spit it in the sink as coconut oil is a solid at room temperature. Hence, it can clog the drain.
Also, do not swallow it as that could lead to diarrhea as the oil will be full of bacteria and plaque.
This method, however, is safer than other teeth whitening techniques as it does not expose your teeth to sensitivity or weakens the enamel.
Hence, you can include it in your daily routine like a mouthwash. It will at least prevent you from tooth decay and keep your teeth clean.
Natural Teeth Whitening with Hydrogen Peroxide
There is a chance you do not have hydrogen peroxide in your house but you can easily get it from any drug or grocery store.
While hydrogen peroxide is present in many teeth whitening products, they contain a higher concentration.
What you will need is a diluted concentration in order to prevent tooth sensitivity and gum irritation.
Hydrogen peroxide is a popular bleaching agent that whitens teeth as well as kills bacteria in your mouth.
You can either use a hydrogen peroxide whitening gel to brighten up your teeth, dilute the liquid with 2 parts of water to use as a mouthwash or use a toothpaste containing both baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.
You should only use a safe amount of hydrogen peroxide that is diluted as otherwise, it can irritate your gums alongside cause sensitivity.
Only use 1.5 percent hydrogen peroxide concentration and dilute any stronger concentration with water.
For making a paste, mix 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide with a single teaspoon of baking soda.
Brush your teeth with that mixture, however, do not overuse any form of peroxide mixture as it can result in tooth sensitivity.
Natural Teeth Whitening With Food
The food you eat greatly impacts how your teeth look.
If you are drinking lots of dark beverages such as cola, coffee, alcohol and tea then that leaves stains on your teeth.
Similarly, food products such as balsamic vinegar, soy sauce or berries can also discolor your teeth.
You do not need to completely quit them, however, aim to greatly reduce their consumption.
Limit the time that they are in contact with your teeth.
If you want to drink any of these heavily staining beverages, only consume them with a straw.
Also, brush your teeth 30 minutes after consuming these.
Besides, there are fruits and vegetables that can whiten your teeth.
One of these is pineapple. It contains the enzyme bromelain. That helps to remove stains and is also found in many kinds of toothpaste.
Papaya also contains the enzyme papain. It gets rid of dead skin cells and brings in new whiter ones for skin whitening.
However, it is also effective in whitening your teeth.
Besides that, you should also limit sugars in your diet.
Sugars support the growth of oral bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans.
As you eat sugary food, the bacteria metabolize it to produce acids.
The acidic environment in your mouth results in plaque formation and hence staining.
So limit sugary foods, instead
Take a calcium-rich diet.
Stains appear when the enamel is weakening.
Therefore, aim to remineralize your enamel with the help of a calcium-rich diet.
Consume milk, broccoli, yogurt or cheese and get protection against enamel erosion.
You can also eat probiotic yogurt in order to balance the oral ecology of your mouth.
While all of these are important, do not forget the importance of brushing and flossing.
Oral Hygiene for Natural Teeth Whitening
The best way to prevent stains is to maintain your oral hygiene.
While some of your enamel will wear out with age, turning your teeth yellow, brushing and flossing can keep your mouth healthy.
They can prevent the accumulation of bacteria and prevent the build-up of stains.
Brush your teeth twice a day with any toothpaste.
However, whitening toothpaste may work to gently remove the stains and brighten your teeth up to one shade.
Brush in circular motions gently using a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Start your day by brushing and end it by doing the same.
Floss once a day. It helps to remove the plaque that is stuck in between your teeth. Brushing teeth only cleans the surfaces and not the plaque stuck in interdental spaces.
However, an interdental brush can also do the same. If you have dexterity issues then use a water flosser instead.
Brushing and flossing properly prevents the accumulation of plaque and stubborn tartar which is behind the yellowness of teeth.
Other than that, you can include a tongue scraper and a mouthwash in your routine.
These two help by getting rid of bacteria to some extent.
A tongue cleaner can clear the bacteria that accumulates on your tongue, whereas a mouthwash can help with bad breath along with whitening.
A whitening mouthwash contains a small amount of the bleaching agent that can work on teeth to whiten them if they get enough contact with the teeth.
Use them once every day in order to maintain a good oral hygiene routine.
Besides that, you should not smoke or chew tobacco as that too can worsen the condition of your teeth along with stain them.
Maintaining Brighter Teeth
No natural remedies will give you instant brightness. You also need to use them with care as they can cause sensitivity concerns.
That said, if your teeth are extremely yellow, then visiting your Arabic dentist in town can be helpful.
They can guide you about dental whitening procedures such as Teeth whitening Zoom and laser dental whitening.
These are the only procedures providing instant results.
Through Zoom whitening, your teeth color can improve up to 8 shades.
Plus, there are less chances of complications, irritation or sensitivity in a professional procedure performed by your dentist.
Hence, do not miss out on your regular dental appointments.
You can also start with a teeth whitening kit and other OTC products.
They cost lesser than a dental procedure but take longer to show results.
Applying whitening strips, gel, mouthguard or using a pen can bring significant change in your discoloration in a period of 2 weeks.
So, if natural teeth whitening isn’t for you, try consulting your dentist about procedures and OTC kits that can help.
Finally,
Natural teeth whitening helps to brighten up your teeth.
That said, use all the options with care and prevent sensitivity or irritation.
If they do not result in a greater improvement, consult your dentist.
Alongside keep healthy habits, eat well and limit staining foods plus drinks.
Keep your smile healthy and bright, always!
