Teeth whitening treatments have long been a struggle. A study in 2015 revealed that society has spent more than $11 billion on teeth whitening, ranging from oral health treatments to rotating through various versions of kinds of toothpaste that ‘promise’ to whiten teeth naturally.
In truth, the truest teeth whitening treatments aren’t found in toothpaste. The key to garnering whiter teeth is using natural home products. You may not know this but there are several DIY practices that proven to whiten your teeth without dishing cash at your local CVS.
Here are seven ways to whiten teeth naturally
Essential Oil Pulling
Utilizing essential oil pulling has long been a remedy that improves oral health. The oil removes toxins and gives you whiter teeth. The process was utilized by American Indians for centuries and you simply need to rinse your mouth with several types of oils. The most popular oils to use is sunflower, sesame or coconut because the oils actually taste pleasant. The oil that contains peak health benefits is coconut since it’s high in lauric acid, which has the ability to kill inflammation and bacteria in your mouth. The essential oil remedy also removed plaque and helped prevent gingivitis.
Use Baking Soda
Not the most enjoyable tactic, but when you brush your teeth with baking soda it removes stains to make your teeth naturally glistens. In general, baking soda contains natural whitening properties — it’s the number one ingredient most kinds of toothpaste. That being said, skip all those other chemical byproducts and go straight to the source. Baking soda creates an alkaline environment in your mouth and scrubs away the stains. The teeth whitening process doesn’t happen overnight. You need to be committed to brushing your teeth with the substance for an extended period to see true results.
Brush Your Teeth with Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide appears extreme but this is a natural bleaching product with extremely effective results. Like most on this list, hydrogen peroxide kills bacteria in your mouth. You could either rinse your mouth with the peroxide or mix it with the baking soda. For maximum results, brush your teeth with the peroxide-baking soda concoction and watch your teeth naturally whiten. A study found that if you brush your teeth with the mixture twice a day for six weeks and your teeth naturally whiten at nearly 62 percent. Just be careful with applying the substance because higher concentrations can lead to gum irritation and tooth sensitivity.
Try Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar seems to be the cure-all for a variety of ailments, from subsiding upset stomach to abolishing blisters to killing toxins. It’s been used for hundreds of years as a natural disinfectant and cleaning product. The vinegar also whitens teeth naturally. Acetic acid is the main ingredient in the apple cider vinegar and improves overall oral health. The antibacterial properties in vinegar remove stains and cleanse your mouth. Be mindful when you rinse your mouth with apple cider vinegar as it could erode tooth enamel. You should not use every day and you should mix the vinegar with water when you rinse your mouth with it.
The Fruit Factor
In general, the inclusion of fruits in your everyday diet provides your body with many vitamins and nutrients. It also whitens your teeth at home. Of course, brushing your teeth remains the most effective way to whiten your teeth. But you could also just chew on these fruits to find similar effects. Studies have shown the fruits like strawberries and pineapples removed plaque and stains. A popular practice is to mix strawberries with baking soda and then brush your teeth with it.
The malic acid in strawberries will remove discoloration on the teeth and baking soda removes stains. The enzyme called bromelain is found in pineapples and it’s included in most toothpaste. Studies have said the natural enzyme has promoted healthy tooth enamel and removed stains. Lemon juice, with it many natural acidic qualities, also has been a way to naturally whiten teeth.
Apply Lemon or Orange Peels
Don’t throw away those fruit peels. They could be the key factor in making your smile brighter. The peels have similar qualities as apple cider vinegar as it has many beneficial acids. The most effective have been the lemon, banana and orange peels. Naturally, rinsing your mouth with lemon juice has been a way to combat mouth bacteria and whiten teeth naturally. But the high acid levels will also eat away at your tooth enamel.
The peels contain fewer acid levels and you just need to rub the peels across your teeth to gain those benefits. You could also apply baking soda to the peels to enhance the process. The banana peels contain loads of potassium and other minerals. It doesn’t have the abrasiveness that could hurt your tooth enamel like lemon and orange peels.
Rub Your Teeth with Activated Charcoal
The application of activated charcoal has become a very popular new age way to naturally whiten your teeth at home. Activated charcoal is highly absorbent and has long been used by hospitals to help fight food poisoning and by dietitians to engage detoxification. Brushing your teeth with activated charcoal powder will absorb the bacteria and remove stains that reside on your teeth. Yes, it’s black and your mouth will turn black. But that’s all temporary so don’t get afraid.
In truth, the amount of random and unneeded chemicals in ordinary toothpaste could actually harm your teeth. That’s why you should be mindful and be open to DIY ways to whiten teeth naturally. Also, if you need to buy toothpaste, then you should read the ingredients and be sure it contains natural minerals such as bromelain and lauric acid. Those will strengthen your teeth, mouth and give you the best smile imaginable.
