What’s the best accessory you have? Most people are going to vouch for their bags; some are going to talk about their shoes or shades, and they are going to talk about all kinds of material things! Your best accessory is your smile. A set of lovely teeth can enhance your face’s beauty like no other and if you have a smile that warms the cockles of your heart, you don’t need anything else to fall back on. Isn’t it time to look after your pearls to remain perfect just the way you want them? These are the simple and best home remedies to whiten teeth naturally at home.
Tips To Help Maintain Your Pearly Whites:
Whitening treatments do not blanch permanently. If you expose yourself to foods and beverages that cause a stain, the whiteness will begin to fade within a month after treatment. Those who avoid foods and drinks that stain may wait a year or longer before they need another whitening or touch-up treatment. You have been working hard to get your white. Here are a few tips to make teeth white and maintain them.
- Follow good practices in oral hygiene: Brush your teeth twice a day, remove plaque, floss at least once a day, and rinse for killing plaque-causing bacteria with an antiseptic mouthwash at least once a day. Use a whitening treatment to remove surface stains and prevent yellowing. Use regular toothpaste for the remainder of the time.
- Do not consume or be exposed to products that stain your teeth: Such as coffee, tea, and red wine. If you choose to eat beverages that stain, consider using a straw, so your front teeth are bypassed by the liquid.
- Brush or rinse immediately after consuming food or beverages that cause the stain.
- Consider touch-up treatments for converting yellow teeth to white: You may need a touch-up every six months or after a year or two depending on the whitening method used. If you smoke or drink lots of stains-causing drinks, you may need to touch them up more often.
- Make sure you close your mouth while you’re sleeping: Wake up on the pillow with drool. Are you snoring? These are signs that you might want to look at something called taping the mouth. Your mouth is meant to stay moist, but when it’s open all night, it gets dry, encouraging the development of biofilm. This then seeps into the stains and the enamel. A lack of saliva will lead to less enamel protection. While you are sleeping, taping your mouth shut will help preserve the natural, moist environment that keeps your teeth bathed in saliva and fend off stains.
- Feed your body and feed your teeth: Establishing a healthy diet with plenty of antioxidants – boosting foods, vitamins, and water will help slow the ageing process of the dentine and extend your bright white smile naturally. For this process, vitamin K2 is particularly important because it grabs calcium and sticks it directly into the teeth. Without K2 we risk building up calcium in the arteries instead of going into the teeth and bones where it belongs.
- Oil Pulling: This is an Ayurvedic method to clean your teeth and gums.
- Baking Soda: Baking soda helps in whitening teeth, but it should not be used daily because of its abrasive qualities and can up damaging teeth.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: This can be used on stubborn stains.
- Easier said than done, prevention is always better than cure, so it is safer to take precautions and avoid staining of teeth.
Home Remedies To Whiten Teeth At Home:
It is true that visiting cosmetic dentists is the easiest and fastest way to get rid of teeth stains or discolouration. They use specialized strips and fluids for whitening teeth that can quickly eradicate teeth stains. These methods, however, are not healthy in the long run for your teeth.
There are many other less expensive and effective methods of teeth whitening that can be tried at home. They cost little and have little or no side effects. These methods can also yield rapid results. Do you want to know how this can be done? This article has listed all the best home remedies to whiten teeth. Read on, please!
1. Strawberries:
Strawberries are rich in vitamin C, which helps to make your teeth whiter. The acids present in strawberries, namely malic acid, and ascorbic acid, lighten the stains of the teeth. You’ll see your teeth have become whiter and brighter with a few uses.
Process:
- Mash a strawberry and add a teaspoon of baking soda. To apply the mixture to your teeth, use a toothbrush or your finger. Leave it on for a couple of minutes.
- Rinse off and brush with your regular toothpaste for another round. You can do this once a week.
- Grind a few strawberries into a paste. Rub the paste gently on your teeth.
Result Time:
- Do it once a week for a month and see the yellow tinge on your teeth disappear.
2. Salt and Lemon:
Lemon juice’s natural bleaching quality removes yellow teeth stains, and the salt acts as a gentle exfoliant. It scrubs off the stains on the teeth that are built up. This remedy is beneficial in removing the buildup of plaque. The gritty texture scrubs the teeth without damaging the enamel. Hence salt and lemon are considered one of the best remedies to whiten your teeth.
Process:
- Mix salt with lemon juice and brush the entire surface of your teeth with a toothbrush.
- Immediately wash your mouth thoroughly with warm water to avoid any acidic damage.
- Initially use this remedy every alternate day and once the tooth colour normalizes you can continue to use this mixture once a month as a yellow teeth remedy.
Result Time:
- Within 15 days of regular use, you can see a difference in your teeth.
3. Holy Basil:
Holy basil is one of the natural teeth whitening remedies. Not only can it whiten your teeth, but it can also provide relief from some gum issues, such as bleeding gums. It’s a great concoction to clean your teeth rigorously. Holy basil leaves can also protect your teeth against problems like pyorrhoea, an advanced form of periodontal disease.
Process:
- Dry some leaves of holy basil in the sun. Grind them in powder form when the leaves are dry. With your regular toothpaste, mix the powder and brush your teeth.
- Another way to clean your teeth is to make a paste of holy basil leaves and mustard oil.
Result time:
- After a month of regular application and you will see your teeth colour changing.
4. Banana Peel:
It is one of the best home remedies to whiten teeth. Banana is a fantastic fruit, rich in flavour and filled with essential minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and manganese that help to reduce your teeth’s dirt and yellowness.
Process:
- Cut the peel of the banana into small pieces. Take part and rub it on your teeth.
- Rub gently for a minute or two all over your teeth. Rinse your mouth with lukewarm water.
Result Time:
- High potassium, magnesium and manganese levels in bananas can help remove teeth stains. Your teeth will whiten after 3 weeks.
5. Coconut Oil:
Oil pulling is a traditional Indian folk remedy intended to improve oral hygiene and eliminate body toxins. Indians have traditionally used sunflower or sesame oil to extract oil, but any oil will work. Also high in lauric acid, coconut oil is known to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria. Some studies have shown that daily oil pulling, along with plaque and gingivitis, reduces bacteria in the mouth effectively. A study in 2015 found that oil with coconut oil in the mouth could be an effective way to reduce plaque buildup on the teeth because plaque buildup can contribute to yellowing, pulling coconut oil can reduce discolouration.
Process:
- Rub with your fingers some coconut oil on your teeth.
- Make sure you’re not swallowing it.
- Rinse and brush with adequate water.
- Do this for 2-3 days.
Result Time:
- Within a week’s time, you will notice a difference in the whiteness of your teeth.
6. Margosa (Neem):
You can also enjoy white, healthy teeth using neem or margosa. Regular use of margosa oil also helps to get rid of bad breath and prevents dental cavities due to its astringent and antiseptic properties. Neem is both a natural and soothing agent. Its regular use will make sure your teeth and gums are healthy and stainless.
Process:
- To brush your teeth, you can use margosa twigs as a toothbrush. Chewing branches of margosa also helps to address teeth problems and remove discolouration of the yellow colour.
- You can also use your regular toothpaste to mix margosa oil and then brush your teeth. (OR)
- For a few minutes, boil the neem leaves in warm water. Strain the solution and allow it to cool down to a warm temperature. Before or after brushing your teeth, rinse with this water.
- Repeat this as a teeth whitening for yellow teeth every day or every alternate day.
Result Time:
- Within 15 days of regular use, you can witness your teeth’ colour changing.
7. Apple Cider Vinegar:
Apple cider vinegar has been used as a natural cleaning product and a disinfectant for centuries. Bacteria are effectively killed by acetic acid, which is the main active ingredient in apple cider vinegar. What makes it useful for mouth cleaning and teeth whitening is the antibacterial property of vinegar. The vinegar’s acetic acid can erode the enamel on your teeth. You should therefore not use apple cider vinegar daily. The amount of time your teeth come in contact with apple cider vinegar should also be limited.
Process:
- Half a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and a cup of water will be needed.
- Add the vinegar and mix well with the water. Before brushing your teeth, rinse with this water.
- Do this in the mornings 2 – 3 times a week.
Result Time:
- Within a fortnight see the colour of your teeth changing from yellow to white.
8. Orange Peel:
Rub your teeth with an orange peel inside. The orange peel is rich in magnesium, manganese, and potassium which loads the enamel. Cleaning your teeth regularly with fresh orange peel will reduce the accumulated yellow tinge on your teeth.
Process:
- Rub your teeth with orange peel every night before you go to sleep. In the orange peel, vitamin C and calcium will fight the microorganisms all night long. Do this for a couple of weeks, and you’ll see useful results.
- If there is no fresh orange peel available, dried orange peel powder may be used.
Result Time:
- You can see a change in a month’s time.
9. Apples:
Simply chewing on apples will help scrub your teeth. Apples also have a high malic acid concentration that is used in certain toothpaste. According to a study carried out at the University Grenada (Spain), in 2013 Malic acid increases the amount of saliva that cleans your teeth and helps eliminate stains.
Process:
- You can scrub your teeth like a toothbrush eating a crunchy apple and make them whiter.
- Try to eat one or two apples per day to get rid of the accumulated yellow stain on your teeth.
- Chew it thoroughly so you have plenty of time to work on your teeth with the apple’s acidic nature and rough flesh rich in fibre.
- Other crunchy food items like raw carrots, cucumbers, and broccoli can also be eaten.
Result Time:
- Within a couple of months, a positive change can be witnessed in your tooth colour.
10. Activated Charcoal:
Activated charcoal is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to bleach your teeth naturally. Charcoal is one of the best home remedies to whiten teeth. Charcoal has a powerful chemical based on crystals that whiten teeth. Activated charcoal effectively and rapidly absorbs impurities and whitens teeth. Preventing cavities and maintaining the health of teeth and gums are also helpful. Powdered charcoal brushing allegedly pulls toxins out of the mouth and removes stains from the teeth.
Process:
- Mix with your regular toothpaste some charcoal powder and brush your teeth gently. Make your teeth sparkling white twice a day.
- Crush into a powder one charcoal tablet. Sprinkle in your clean wet toothbrush and brush your teeth as usual.
Note:
- Charcoal toothpaste should be used cautiously because it can cause staining. It may be difficult to remove the charcoal from the teeth’s crevices and around restorations.
Result Time:
- Within 15 days you will be able to witness the change.
Few people have white teeth of course, as teeth tend to be yellow with age. Maintaining excellent oral hygiene, however, and regular dental inspections can help keep your teeth bright. Yellow teeth are usually not a sign of a health issue, but a dentist can check for loss of enamel and decay of the tooth. Natural remedies at home can help individuals whiten their teeth.
A dentist may also be able to offer professional teeth whitening. Do you think these tips and home remedies to whiten teeth were useful? Then please share them for the benefit of others. Also, share with us in the comments below your other tried and tested home remedies to whiten teeth.
Disclaimer:
All of the home remedies to whiten teeth described above are assembled from the experiences of people around the world and have hardly any side effects, but it’s different for every individual. So please try the remedy on a small portion, before applying it to the whole area. You should stop immediately and make an appointment with your dentist if you experience any pain, irritation or sensitivity while using any of these treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Question 1: What is tooth discolouration?
Answer 1: Tooth discolouration is an abnormal colour, hue or translucent colour of the tooth. The outside discolouration is the accumulation of stains on the surface of the tooth. There are sometimes several coexisting factors that are responsible for discolouration.
Question 2: What causes teeth to look yellow?
Answer 2: Multiple factors cause teeth to lose their brightness and white sparkle. Some foods may stain your enamel, which is your teeth’s outermost layer. Besides, plaque build-up can make them look yellow on your teeth. Usually, regular cleaning and whitening remedies can be used to treat this type of discolouration. Sometimes, however, teeth look yellow as the hard enamel eroded, revealing the dentin below. Some of the other reasons why teeth turn yellow, beige or brown include:
- Drinking coffee or tea.
- Smoking cigarettes.
- Thinning tooth enamel due to ageing.
- This includes consuming lots of high-acid processed foods, including soft drinks/soda, candies, or even certain fruits at times.
- Dry mouth suffering (because lack of saliva means less enamel protection), breathing through your mouth and blocking nasal passages. These conditions reduce the amount of saliva and prevent moisturization of the teeth/mouth.
- Antibiotic use, excessive intake of fluoride.
Question 3: How to slow down your teeth’s ageing (and yellowing)?
Answer 3:
- Treat bruxism. They are prematurely ageing, shrinking, and yellowing from all that brute force with which you grind and clench your teeth. Don’t underestimate your teeth’s damaging effects!
- Protect the teeth against trauma. Protect them from falls during physical activity by wearing a mouthguard. When you’re at a cocktail party, don’t hold a glass near your mouth — you’d be surprised how often people get bumped and knock their teeth!
- Nourish the entire body. Proper diet, restorative sleep, and stress management will slow the ageing process of all of your body’s living tissues, including dentin.
- Too many people, including dentists, are overly concerned about berries teeth stains, tea, tobacco, soy sauce, and spicy foods, but the most important thing to do when it comes to keeping your teeth white is to preserve the tooth’s internal health and slow down the ageing (and yellowing) process.
Question 4: What are the different treatment options for whitening teeth?
Answer 4: Treatment options for teeth whitening may vary depending on the cause of discolouration and may include:
- Use of proper techniques for tooth brushing and flossing.
- Avoid foods and drinks that cause stains.
- Using over-the-counter products.
- In-home whitening agents or purchased from your dentist.
- In-clinic whitening procedures.
Question 5: Will Whitening weaken my Teeth?
Answer 5: Whitening has proven to be safe and effective, and whether you have a professional procedure at the dentist’s office or perform DIY whitening treatments at home, the majority of whitening therapies are based on the same bleaching agents. If you begin to overdo it and use too many different whitening products, you can get into trouble. Stick to a few and use as directed at all times. It can weaken enamel by overdoing it with whitening treatments.
Question 6: What are the side effects and other considerations for Teeth Whitening?
Answer 6: While teeth whitening can be considered safe, treatment may cause you to experience some side effects: teeth sensitivity: after teeth whitening, your teeth may become more sensitive, and gum irritation. This may happen due to contact with the whitening product on your gums. Following your treatments, this side effect should go away. Keep in mind that you can’t permanently whiten your teeth.
Question 7: How to maintain Tooth Whitening results?
Answer 7: Eating, drinking, and oral hygiene habits can have an impact on how long the results of your teeth whitening last. After you have completed any whitening treatment, your teeth are still susceptible to stains from drinks such as tea and coffee and certain foods. Rinsing your mouth or brushing your teeth shortly after eating or drinking may prevent these kinds of discolouring agents from settling on the surface of your teeth and reduce your chances of plaque building!
