A set of dazzling white teeth certainly is one of the ways to brighten your day with a smile. Needless to say, in today’s world, there is a lot of emphasis on appearance, which is one of the reasons why the dental industry has grown in leaps and bounds. This has led to a soaring market for over-the-counter teeth whiteners.
Many clients who opt for these whiteners are astounded by the results, but often experience over-sensitivity. This has paved the way for clients who prefer home remedies to OTC products. Not only are home remedies to whiten teeth more affordable, they often do not come with the distinct side-effects such as increased sensitivity, possibility of gum infection due to bleaching agents used and tooth resorption.
If you’re interested in learning how to make your teeth whiter using safe ingredients found in your own home, then you’ve come to the right place.
Below, you will find a list of top home remedies to whiten teeth at home and finally get those pearly whites you’ve always wanted, and most of these constitute easy-to-get ingredients:
1. Baking Soda and Lemon Paste:
Time Required: 5 min
What You Need: Baking soda, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and toothbrush.
Difficulty: Easy
Baking soda, whose alternative name is Sodium bicarbonate, has gentle abrasive qualities that make it a key natural teeth whitener. Lemon juice on the other hand, is a natural brightener. You can use the ingredients separately since they are effective on their own, but the combined effect yields better results. In addition, the lemon’s acidity is balanced by the baking soda’s alkalinity. This is important since it preserves the enamel’s integrity.
Directions:
Mix the baking soda and lemon juice in a small bowl to create a paste. Using a paper towel, dab saliva off your teeth. Transfer some of the paste to your toothbrush and allow the paste to stay on your teeth for a minute or so. Brush using the paste as you would using toothpaste, before rinsing off the mixture.
It is recommended that this home remedy be applied twice weekly until your desired results are obtained. After this, you can switch to using the baking soda and lemon paste once every fortnight. This is critical because overusing baking soda has the capacity to erode tooth enamel.
2. Baking Soda, Strawberry and Salt Scrub:
Time Required:
What You Need: 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 3 large strawberries, and a pinch of salt.
Difficulty: Easy
Learning how to whiten your teeth at home does not have to be a complicated process. Baking soda, as aforementioned, is a gentle abrasive that easily gets rid of teeth discoloration. Strawberries on the other hand, are rich in Vitamin C and Malic Acid. Vitamin C is effective in dealing with plaque, one of the causes of discolored teeth. Malic Acid is a compound whose enzymatic action helps get rid of enamel staining. Salt compliments the abrasiveness of the baking soda, therefore improving the efficiency at which it removes stains from your teeth.
Directions:
Mash the strawberries in a small bowl to create a gooey pulp. Add the baking soda and salt and mix evenly. Dab saliva from your teeth using a paper towel before scooping a generous amount of the scrub using your toothbrush. Apply this scrub to your teeth and allow to stay for a couple of minutes before rinsing off.
This natural remedy for whitening teeth is best used daily. The other alternative that is closely related to this, is to simply snack on strawberries during the day, taking time to chew well so that this in itself, acts as a mild form of brushing.
3. Rinsing Using Coconut Oil:
Time Required:
What You Need: 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
Difficulty: Easy
You are probably shaking your head at how incredulous using coconut oil to whiten teeth sounds. The truth is, however, that this is part of an ancient Indian natural procedure used to improve oral health. This rinsing process is aptly referred to as oil pulling. The action of coconut oil is not bleaching per se; the oil’s lauric acid however, is an effective ingredient in eliminating unwanted plaque by killing bacterial micro-organisms that cause it, making it an effective home remedy for whitening teeth.
Directions:
This is a simple remedy since all you are required to do is simply take the tablespoon of coconut oil and move it in your mouth, almost the same way you would with hard candy. This swishing process allows your saliva to mix with lauric acid, in effect extracting toxins from the oral cavity.
Spit out the oily mixture and then rinse your mouth thoroughly with water before brushing as you normally would using toothpaste. Spitting out the mixture is done to ensure the toxic-laden coconut oil is not swallowed, as the latter would cause toxin re-absorption.
It does take some getting used to for anyone who is not accustomed to oil uses, but the coconut oil rinse’s efficiency makes up for the smell and/or taste. While this process can be done at any time of the day, it is most effective when done first thing in the morning, before meal times, and certainly before brushing.
4. Orange and/or Banana Peels:
Time Required:
What You Need: Orange and banana peels.
Difficulty: Easy
This is one of those teeth whitening remedies that’s not only easy to use, but is also easily available. If you want to whiten your teeth, perhaps it is time you stopped discarding your orange and banana peels. Orange peels are rich in Vitamin C, which is used in many natural teeth whitening remedies.
Banana peels on the other hand, are rich in a number of minerals that include Magnesium, Potassium and Manganese. These minerals are integral to the health of your teeth and the overall well-being of your oral cavity.
Directions:
Make sure that the orange peels are washed before rubbing the inner part on your teeth for about three minutes twice daily. The same procedure is used with the banana peels. Note that dried orange peel powder can be used to supplant fresh orange peels with the same results. The powder is mixed with some water before applying the mixture on your teeth and allowing it to stay for a few minutes. You will then rinse your mouth before brushing as normal.
5. Hydrogen Peroxide Fix:
Time Required:
What You Need: Half a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide.
Difficulty: Easy
Hydrogen peroxide is the go-to substance for wound cleaning, but did you know that this substance can be used as one of the most effective home remedies for white teeth? A mild bleaching agent, hydrogen peroxide is effective in getting rid of discoloration.
Directions:
Add the Hydrogen peroxide to your normal brushing routine, brush and rinse. Alternatively, dab the hydrogen peroxide on some cotton wool and gently run it across your teeth before brushing normally. It is important for you to know that excessive use of hydrogen peroxide can lead to teeth sensitivity and cause gum irritation. Mild use however, is known to have a positive effect in creating a whiter smile.
6. Basil – Mustard Oil Paste:
Time Required:
What You Need: Fresh basil leaves, and 1 teaspoon of mustard oil.
Difficulty: Easy
Basil leaves are a common ingredient in the culinary sector, but you will be amazed just how these leaves can transform your teeth. Basil has been shown to contain teeth-whitening properties. Mustard oil on the other hand, kills bacteria that cause teeth to yellow. The combination of the two makes it a killer home remedy for yellow teeth, and it tackles the issue of ‘how to get rid of yellow teeth’ and ‘how to whiten yellow teeth’, both of which are common when people first embark on a journey to make teeth whiter.
Directions:
Pound the fresh basil leaves using a pestle and mortar to create a paste. Add the mustard oil to the paste and mix well. Apply the resulting mixture to your toothbrush and brush normally. Rinse your mouth and proceed to your usual brushing routine.
7. Tree Twigs:
Time Required:
What You Need: Twigs from different trees listed below.
Difficulty: Easy
The use of tree twigs has long been used to ensure oral health in many traditional communities. The length of the twig is estimated to be that of a standard toothbrush for ergonomic purposes.
Directions:
These twigs are simply plucked, cleaned and chewed on to create a natural toothbrush. The chewed on end will have frayed-like fibers, which is where all the action takes place. Use this brush for up to 20 minutes daily. Discard your natural toothbrush when done, and look for another one to pluck for the next brushing routine.
For many users, the task lies in identifying the specific trees where these twigs are sourced from. These include:
- Neem tree (Botanical name is Azadirachtha indica)
- Banyan tree (Botanical name is Ficus religiosa)
- Babool tree (Botanical name is Acacia Arabica)
The above home remedies have been shown to work effectively in people who would like to halt teeth discoloration while addressing any causative agents such as excessive coffee intake, smoking and fizzy drinks.
Whitening teeth at home is really simple. Most of the remedies mentioned above are easy to shop for, so you have no excuse not to have that bright smile you’ve always wanted. Go ahead and embrace these natural solutions to whiter teeth!
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