White and glowing teeth not only boost confidence but shows that you have healthy teeth. While you can whiten your teeth at home using products you can find in medical stores, research has discovered that most whitening products use chemicals to bleach your teeth, which could be a concern for many people. However, there are simple home remedies that can help you establish a white, healthy and glowing teeth. If you want a whiter teeth but also want to avoid the chemicals, this article lists five options that are both natural and safe for you.
- Practice oil pulling
Oil pulling is a traditional remedy, originating in India. It is meant to improve oral hygiene and remove toxins from the body. The practice involves swishing oil around in your mouth to remove bacteria, which can turn into plaque and cause your teeth to look yellow. Coconut oil is a popular choice because it has a pleasant taste and offers many health benefits. Coconut oil is also high in lauric acid, which is known for its ability to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria.
- Brush with baking soda
Baking soda has natural whitening properties, which is why it’s a popular ingredient in commercial toothpaste. It’s a mild abrasive that can help scrub away surface stains on teeth. Additionally, baking soda creates an alkaline environment in your mouth, which prevents bacteria from growing. This is not a remedy that will whiten your teeth overnight, but you should notice a difference in the appearance of your teeth over time.
- Eat fruits and vegetables
A diet high in fruits and vegetables may be good for both your body and your teeth. While they’re no substitute for brushing them, crunchy, raw fruits and vegetables can help rub plaque away as you chew. Strawberries and pineapple are two fruits that have been claimed to help whiten your teeth.
Strawberries
Whitening your teeth with a strawberry and baking soda mixture is a natural remedy that has been made popular by celebrities.
- Use hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent that also kills bacteria in your mouth. In fact, people have been using hydrogen peroxide for years to disinfect wounds because of its ability to kill bacteria. Many commercial whitening products contain hydrogen peroxide, although at a much higher concentration than you will use at home.
- Prevent tooth stains before they happen
While your teeth naturally yellow as you age, some things can help prevent stains on your teeth.
- Limit staining foods and beverages
Coffee, red wine, soda, and dark berries are infamous for staining teeth. That doesn’t mean you have to completely avoid them, but you should limit the amount of time these substances are in contact with your teeth. If possible, drink beverages known to stain teeth out of a straw to prevent direct contact with your teeth.
- Other methods that are not proven
There are a few other natural teeth whitening methods, but there is no scientific evidence to prove that they are safe or effective. Some of the unproven methods include:
- Activated charcoal Brushing with powdered charcoal supposedly pulls toxins from the mouth and removes stains from teeth, though research shows this is likely ineffective.
- Kaolin clay Proponents of this method claim that brushing with clay helps remove stains from teeth.
- Fruit peels Rubbing orange, lemon, or banana peels on your teeth is claimed to make them whiter.
- Apple cider vinegar There is no evidence that using apple cider vinegar as a mouthwash helps whiten your teeth. On the contrary, it weakens the enamel and may increase tooth decay.
