You know what they say: Smile now, you never know who is going to fall in love with your smile!
Have you ever wondered why some people are just a pleasure to be around, much more than others?
However, some of us might be a bit reluctant to smile all the time, especially if we’d like to have whiter teeth. Most people want a lovely smile, with perfectly lined, white teeth, just like we see on our favorite celebrities on TV, and there are a lot of products out there claiming to have the best teeth whitening solution for you.
But what we don’t know is how much those teeth actually cost. While you can get whiter teeth in your dentist’s office or at home using professional kits, you might be better off trying natural methods.
The professional teeth whitening kits are packed with harsh chemical ingredients that could actually damage the teeth, so you might end up with more problems than when you started.
DIY teeth whitening has become more and more popular nowadays. Despite regularly brushing the teeth, some people notice that their teeth are still not white. There are a few things you can do to correct this problem.
We have compiled a list of best teeth whitening solutions you have and can have at home, such as an organic toothpaste, but first, let’s have a look at what causes the stains on the teeth.
Why Are Your Teeth Not White Enough?
Certain foods
Certain foods can stain the teeth. Among them, we can mention the forest fruits, especially blackberries. Also, tomato sauce and curry can lead to stains on your teeth. To fight against the damaging effects of these foods, you can have hard white cheese after forest fruits and try other types of sauces for your pasta (pesto sauce is excellent, isn’t it?).
Certain Drinks
Most of us are not aware of the fact that even the drinks we enjoy regularly or occasionally can stain the teeth. Coffee, red wine, and tea are part of our everyday life, but they can lead to yellow teeth.
Smoking
There is no doubt anymore about the damaging effects of smoking on a person’s health. However, you might not have known that smoking can also stain your teeth. So, if you want healthy, sparkling white teeth, it is time to quit this habit.
The Natural Aging Process
With aging, our teeth can turn yellow. The enamel of the teeth can deteriorate with age. This happens due to the effects of the acids present in food and drinks. Unfortunately, there is no stopping for the aging process. However, there are methods for DIY teeth whitening.
Best Teeth Whitening Solutions You Can Try at Home
✓ Clay
There are special clays prepared for cosmetic use or especially for teeth whitening. You will find them as powder or gel in specific shops or shops with naturist products. If you have chosen clay powder to whiten your teeth, the procedure is rather simple. All you have to do is dip the wet toothbrush in the powder and then brush your teeth. Don’t worry if the teeth will look green during brushing. Once you rinse with water, the teeth will look better, and the bad smell will be gone. Do this regularly, and your teeth will get whiter.
✓ Baking soda
There are countless uses of baking soda for beauty purposes. Baking soda is also one of the best teeth whitening methods that you can try at home. All you have to do is dip the wet toothbrush in the baking soda then brush your teeth for a few minutes as you would do with your regular toothpaste. Rinse with warm water. You can try this DIY teeth whitening method once a week. Also, you can add baking soda to your oral shower for even more benefits.
✓ Charcoal
You might have never thought that you can actually use charcoal (a black substance) to make your teeth whiter! But the truth is that it works! You can get vegetal charcoal in specialized shops. Usually, it is a black powder. Apply the charcoal on your teeth just like before and brush thoroughly, then rinse with water. Your teeth will get dark when you are doing the brushing, this is natural. Nowadays you can also buy in shops toothpaste made with charcoal. Make sure it is made with natural or organic ingredients for the best results.
✓ Strawberries
Savory strawberries are a delicious treat when they are in season. Appreciated by both children and adults, berries are packed with vitamin C. They can add a good dose of antioxidants when included in your diet.
However, there is more than what meets the eyes (or the mouth, in this particular case!). Strawberries are fruits appreciated not only for their taste and flavor but also for their teeth whitening properties.
As we mentioned before, strawberries are rich in vitamin C and astringent substances. These astringent ingredients (malic acid) can be very efficient in removing stains from the surface of the teeth while vitamin C fights plaque.
So, if you are looking for a natural method to whiten your teeth, strawberries might be just the thing that you were looking for. What you can do is just grind one or two berries (depending on their size) and dip the toothbrush in it. Brush your teeth with the strawberry mixture for a few minutes, use gentle movements.
Rinse your mouth with water (optional!). Make sure to remove the seeds leftovers from your mouth with dental floss. You can try this method once a week.
✓ Apples
An apple a day keeps the doctor away! We don’t know if this is true for all types of doctors, but an apple a day can help you avoid going to the dentist for a whitening treatment. Why are apples preferred to chemical whitening kits?
For one thing, they are delicious, packed with fibers, and good for our health. Then, apples don’t harm the enamel of our teeth, which is an absolute treat because this is something most professional whitening kits do. So, we get whiter teeth and a yummy treat! But why are apples great for teeth whitening?
The apple manducation process allows for the natural elimination of the food leftovers that get stuck between our teeth. More than this, it can considerably reduce the number of bacteria that are in excess at the level of the mouth cavity. Rubbing the teeth with the apple pulp can lead to stain removal.
More than this, it is essential to mention that apples contain a good percentage of malic acid, a substance we already know is efficient in the teeth whitening process. So, from now on, instead of opting for those expensive dental treatments, just get a few apples and start chewing on them! It is much cheaper, yummier, and healthier in the long run!
✓ Hydrogen peroxide
We usually use it to clean wounds, but if you have it around the house, you can try hydrogen peroxide as a teeth whitening solution too. Most of the best teeth whitening dental kits contain hydrogen peroxide, so we’re not reinventing the wheel here. However, unlike other harsh chemical ingredients, hydrogen peroxide is safe to use in the comfort of your home.
Well, it can help make the teeth whiter, while also making the teeth spots and yellow stains less visible. It will be a good idea to avoid hydrogen peroxide if you have cavities or other lesions at the level of the mouth cavity. Also, if you have dental hypersensitivity, you are better off trying other DIY teeth whitening methods.
How to use hydrogen peroxide to whiten your teeth? All you have to do is use a drop of hydrogen peroxide on your toothbrush. Then start brushing your teeth. The recommendation is to use hydrogen peroxide no more often than once a week.
✓ Coconut oil
You’ve tried everything, but nothing worked to get whiter teeth. Maybe now would be a good time to try something natural, but less conventional, like coconut oil! Few people know that coconut oil can be used as a substitute for the traditional toothpaste. It can fight against bacteria accumulation in the oral cavity, prevents gum inflammation and bad breath, and can even whiten the teeth. Coconut oil can do all these things due to the high levels of lauric acid it contains, and this is why we’re adding it to our best teeth whitening list.
✓ Banana peel
If you like bananas, don’t throw away the peels! You can use them to rub your teeth with them for a whitening effect. Banana peels are rich in potassium, magnesium, and other minerals that can help you get whiter teeth in time. After you have brushed your teeth and used dental floss too, try rubbing the inside part of the banana peel on your teeth for a couple of minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. You can try this method once or twice a week.
When Can You Try DIY Teeth Whitening
Some of the methods we discussed above can be used daily. However, others should be used just occasionally. The baking soda brushing is recommended once a week. Another treatment that you can try to whiten your teeth is the one with fine sea salt and lemon juice.
However, it is crucial to understand that this combination can attack the enamel of the teeth. This means that you should only resort to it in exceptional situations.
There are a lot of best teeth whitening methods widely available. You will find the items already in your pantry (such as baking soda) or at your naturist shop, so go ahead and make your pearls white.
Nowadays, it is easier than ever to get whiter teeth at home, using only natural methods. What is essential to remember?! That all these methods should be used alternatively, but not all at once or all the time. What you could do is 1. choose your favorite; 2. introduce the practice to your daily routine for a while until you see results.
Sources
Six natural ways to whiten teeth – Medical News Today
