Who in this whole world does not want to have a shining, dazzling, and aesthetically beautiful smile? It’s no secret that many people seek natural and inexpensive ways to whiten their teeth.
Unfortunately, most of the information on teeth whitening is outdated or just plain wrong. This blog post will dispel some myths about natural tooth whitening and share tips on whitening your teeth without using harsh chemicals. So read on to learn more!
Why Do Teeth Turn Yellow?
Before we learn how to whiten teeth naturally, we must first understand what causes our teeth to become yellow.
The reasons for teeth discoloration broadly fall into three categories:
- An extrinsic stain results from something that comes into contact with your teeth while eating and drinking.
- While an intrinsic stain refers to the discoloration in the inner structure of your tooth, i.e., the dentin, these stains are more difficult to remove.
- Other reasons involve genetics, age, illness, injuries, etc.
It’s hard to believe, but anything that stains a white shirt will stain your teeth. From coffee to wine or ketchup, you can bet it’ll show up on those pearly whites sooner rather than later!
Let us look at the various reasons attributed to the yellowing or discoloration of teeth.
- Certain Foods/Drinks with strong pigments
- Smoking
- Genetics/Heredity
- Dentin
- Age
- Medications/Antibiotics
- Fluorosis
- Poor Oral Hygiene
- Diseases
- Teeth Grinding
- Accidents/Injury
How to Whiten Teeth Naturally at Home?
The general rule regarding how white your teeth should be is whether they match the whites of your eyes or not.
A few solutions can assist you in getting your desired sparkling smile. However, much depends on whether the stains on your teeth are extrinsic or intrinsic.
If you want to learn how to whiten teeth at home, here are some methods you can try out:
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Oil Pulling
The process of oil pulling is an ancient Indian folk remedy that’s been making waves recently. This method includes swishing around 10-20 ml of pure, virgin coconut oil or any other vegetable oil around your mouth for 15-20 mins.
Once done, you spit the oil out and rinse your mouth with warm water before brushing, as usual, to help cleanse the plaque buildup on the front and back areas.
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Have a Lot of Strawberries
You would be amazed to know that you can clean your teeth while eating fruits like strawberries too. Indeed, nature has its mysterious ways.
The strawberries you eat may help protect your teeth from infection. Certain acids in these fruits are scientifically proven to have a cleaning effect on your teeth. They also clean your mouth of plaque by making the tooth enamel less hard— which helps prevent cavities!
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Baking Soda
This trusted pantry staple has numerous applications, including tooth whitening. Baking soda can naturally whiten your teeth at home and is one of the best and most affordable options for teeth whitening.
Brushing with this natural mineral daily will help remove plaque from the enamel surface, preventing staining or damage!
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Rinsing with Apple Cider Vinegar
Just like strawberries help keep your teeth white, rinsing with apple cider vinegar is a great way to remove stains from the surface of the tooth enamel and make them appear brighter!
Be careful not to overdo it, though, because the acidity of apple cider vinegar can wear away hard dental tissues such as bone and damage the enamel if applied too often. So limit how frequently you use this technique until after consulting an expert on oral hygiene.
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Pineapple
If you like pineapples, we have good news. Pineapples contain a distinct proteolytic enzyme called “bromelain“. The enzyme can break up plaque and acts as a natural stain remover.
Pineapples are an excellent source of this powerful cleanser found in many home kitchens due to their ability to reduce cholesterol levels while boosting dental health!
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Avoid Foods/Drinks that Can Stain Your Teeth
You must have heard the saying— a stitch in time saves nine. Now is the time to implement it.
Anything with a bright or strong hue has the potential to discolor your teeth. Drinks such as coffee, tea, red wine, and Cola severely stain your teeth with regular consumption.
Certain foods with natural solid pigments like curry can also stain your teeth. So, it’s best to avoid drinks and foods that stain your teeth in the first place or brush your teeth immediately afterward consumption.
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Give Up Smoking
Cigarette chemicals can cause yellow or brown stains on your teeth. The biggest problem with these oral nuisances is that they contain nicotine. Nicotine has no color but turns yellow when combined with oxygen – not just for you but for all those who breathe it too!
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Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent that can help you get whiter teeth. The bleaching process uses an oxidative chemical to break down color-causing molecules and change or remove those bonds.
However, take care as the process of bleaching teeth can be uncomfortable and cause some temporary side effects like tooth sensitivity or gum inflammation.
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Maintain Proper Oral Hygiene
Here comes the most crucial aspect of your dental routine. Maintaining optimum oral hygiene is a must, come what may.
It will help reduce any yellowing, gum disease, or stain buildup on your teeth because regular brushing and flossing protect the enamel from getting damaged, preventing decay under their surface layer as well! So, it’s a crucial step while figuring out how to whiten teeth naturally.
How to Whiten Teeth: Methods That Do Not Work
Figuring out how to whiten teeth can be expensive and time-consuming, but some methods don’t work. Certain products are proven to be ineffective for whitening teeth. These include using:
- Lemons
- Oranges
- Activated Charcoal
Want Your Teeth to be Pearly White? Book a Teeth Whitening Appointment at Valley Ridge Dental for a Dazzling Smile Today!
While this article has shown you how to whiten teeth naturally, it’s always better to go for professional teeth cleaning sessions as they give you pearly white teeth without damaging or weakening your teeth’s enamel.
Even if you take the utmost care of your teeth, it’s still possible for them to become stained. However, If that happens call Valley Ridge Dental in Lake Elmo, MN immediately!
Our experienced professionals can help restore your teeth’s natural brightness. Book an appointment or contact us at your convenience. In the meantime, avoid any foods or drinks known to cause staining, and keep up with your regular brushing and flossing routine!
