8 Natural Ways to Make Your Teeth Whiter at Home
The reasons why teeth lose their natural whiteness can be various, which should be examined by a dental provider. The provider will make a tooth color analysis to find the reasons for the darkness of your teeth and recommend you a tooth-whitening regimen that is tailored to your needs.
There are two categories of whitening treatment supervised by a dental provider:
– In-office treatment using higher bleaching concentrations or,
– Repeated use of teeth enfolding trays at home
People spend billions of dollars on whitening their teeth because many of these procedures are quite expensive due to their requested repeating. However, people should know that their houses are full of products that can help them to do it without paying so much.
Some Teeth Whitening Hacks That Can be Easily Repeated at Home:
- Ginger and salt
Ingredients needed: ginger, salt, and lemon
Directions: By using a grater grind a small piece of ginger, then take 1/4 teaspoon of salt and add it to the ginger. Add lemon juice into the mixture, and mix well again. This mixture should be applied with a toothbrush.
- Kaolin clay
Ingredients: kaolin clay
Directions: Apply kaolin clay on your teeth and brush them gently with a toothbrush, without using much pressure and then rinse your mouth with clean water.
- Epsom salt
Ingredients: Epsom salt, water
Directions: Mix water and Epson salt in equal parts, stirring the salt until is completely dissolved. You can apply the mixture to your teeth with a toothbrush or gargle with it and then rinse your mouth with clean water.
- Neem leaves
Ingredients: neem leaves, water
Directions: Put the neem leaves in a pot of water and bring it to boil. Then strain it so that the liquid is clean. After cooling the resulting solution, you can gargle it.
- Peppermint leaves and coconut oil
Ingredients: peppermint leaves, coconut oil
Directions: In the coconut oil add ground peppermint leaves. Mix them well and apply the mixture to your teeth with a toothbrush. Use only 3-5 leaves, it is more than enough.
- Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda
Ingredients: hydrogen peroxide, baking soda
Directions: Prepare a mixture of baking soda with hydrogen peroxide in a ratio of 1:2. Stir the mixture until a paste is formed. When the mixture is ready, gently brush your teeth with it and then rinse your mouth with a large amount of water.
- Cocoa powder
Ingredients: cocoa powder and water or coconut oil.
Directions: Prepare a mixture of cocoa powder with coconut oil or water. When the paste is formed brush your teeth as usual with this mixture.
- Vinegar and baking soda
Ingredients: baking soda, apple cider vinegar
Directions: Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Stir both ingredients until they form a homogeneous mixture. With the resulting paste brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with plenty of water.
Warnings for Natural Teeth-whitening
While there are some side effects from teeth whitening, whitening treatments are safe to use as long as you follow the product’s directions.
- a) These natural remedies should be used carefully
These methods should be used 2-3 times a week for several weeks and take breaks. For those who start feeling pain or suffer from the sensitivity of their teeth and that rapidly increases, immediately stop the procedure.
- b) Be mindful of home remedies
A variety of do-it-yourself teeth-whitening options appear on the internet, and they avoid chemicals, however, current studies show that natural ingredients — such as strawberries, charcoal, and coconut oil — are good in removing superficial stains but do not change tooth color.
- c) Refrain from high-colored foods and drinks
Whitened teeth can be maintained, so be careful with coffee, as it is the worst culprit for teeth staining. Also, avoid drinks such as sodas or sports drinks rich in color immediately after whitening, as well as highly acidic foods, oranges, and strawberries. The experts explain that it takes time for saliva to create a natural protective coat around tooth surfaces after teeth-whitening.
- d) Consult a dentist if you suffer from tooth sensitivity
If individuals suffer from tooth sensitivity it is important to talk with a dental professional first. Most dentists will initiate a de-sensitivity regimen two weeks before applying whitening options.
When Not to Whiten
Pregnant women or nursing mothers should postpone teeth whitening if they want to be on the safe side.
Porcelain or composite dental crowns and fillings shouldn’t be whitened. So, your solution, if you change the color of the teeth around them, might be with an uneven smile or to replace old fillings and crowns.
