3 Natural Ways to Whiten Your Teeth

Teeth whitening has always been surrounded with various home brews or bleaching procedures with fancy names. With this many treatment options there must be an alternative to spending hundreds of dollars for a tooth whitening procedure.

So let’s find out what they are:

The Root of the Problem

Before we dive into the meat and potatoes, let’s first discuss what causes teeth to get yellow or discolored. There are several factors to consider which includes: genetics, the foods and drinks you consume and your general oral hygiene habits.

One of the main factors to affect your tooth color is the enamel and dentin.  They are part of the four main components of a tooth, the others being cementum and pulp. Coffee, tea, tomato sauce and ketchup can cause tooth staining as they break down the enamel, revealing the layer of dentin underneath which has an inherently yellow tinge.  Besides plaque, this is one of the main causes for tooth discoloration.

So let’s have a look at the different ways you can make your smile brighter:

Home Tooth Whitening Techniques

1. Baking Soda and Lemon Juice/Water: Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is the primary ingredient here. Baking soda has abrasive properties which are used to gently scrub the surface stains off of the teeth and return it to a whiter shade.  It is also high in alkaline which prevent the enamel erosion caused by high acidity levels in the mouth.  The lemon’s acidity will also be neutralized, only leaving its natural bleaching properties and making your teeth whiter. All you need is a few teaspoons of baking soda with enough lemon juice or water and mix them all together to form a paste. Then you simply apply a generous amount to your tooth brush and you are all set.  Just make sure to wipe any extra saliva off with a paper towel before you begin brushing and only leave the paste in your mouth for a minute if using lemon juice. However if you are mixing it with water, you may leave it on for 3 minutes.

2. Coconut Oil: One of the more unconventional methods of teeth whitening on this list but it is by no means less effective. In fact, it has many qualities that promote healthy and white teeth. Research has shown that massaging coconut oil into your gums about 10 minutes a day will help reduce tooth decay causing bacteria streptococcus mutans as well as breaking down plaque. Using coconut oil before brushing your teeth is sure to keep your breath fresh and your teeth squeaky clean.

3. Strawberry Scrub: Strawberries also have some surprising tooth whitening properties when combined with baking soda. A strawberry contains an enzyme called malic acid which is a helpful stain remover. And since strawberries also contain a high amount of Vitamin C, it can help dissolve any built up plaque and make your teeth white again. Mash up 1-3 strawberries into a pulp and add a pinch of salt as well as a half teaspoon of baking soda to get your whitening agent ready. Make sure to wipe off any saliva from your teeth before applying a generous amount of the mixture to your toothbrush and scrubbing your teeth. Let the solution sit for 5 minutes, then rinse. If done every night, you are sure to see results.

Whichever method you choose, just know that you can never get the ‘‘quick results’’ that a dental whitening procedure or even some over the counter whitening strips can offer. But the main draw of going the homeopathic approach is that you eliminate the use of harsh chemicals while at the same time saving you hundreds of dollars.  If you don’t have a photo shoot for the next few months, why not whiten your teeth the natural way?

- KT