Mega Bored
Although not a serious health concern, stained teeth can give off an unkempt appearance that does not look great in person and in pictures. Certain types of foods, beverages, smoking, and poor oral hygiene are the common causes of teeth discoloration. You can always use commercial teeth whitening products but these products are expensive and sometimes, abrasive to the tooth enamel. Good thing there are ways to whiten your teeth without harming the tooth enamel! Try these effective teeth whitening tricks:
Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda make an excellent teeth whitener! Baking soda acts as a gentle exfoliant that will buff away stains while hydrogen peroxide whitens the teeth.
To make a teeth-whitening paste, mix a small amount of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda into a runny paste. Make sure the baking soda is dissolved and not gritty when applied on the teeth to avoid abrasion. With a clean brush, apply a thin layer of the paste all over the teeth and leave it on for a few minutes. Because hydrogen peroxide can cause slight teeth sensitivity, we recommend limiting this method to once per week.
Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is an Ayurvedic method of removing toxins from the body via the mouth. This treatment whitens the teeth and freshens the breath too! That’s because coconut oil is naturally rich in anti-microbial agents that contribute to healthy teeth and gums.
To try oil pulling, take a teaspoon of oil and swish it in the mouth for at least 20 minutes. Once you are done swishing, spit the oil in the trash bin, not the sink. Coconut oil turns into a solid in room temperature and spitting it in the sink could clog the pipes. If you cannot swish the oil for 20 minutes, try adding a few drops on your toothbrush and brush it on the teeth.
Apple Cider Vinegar Mouth Rinse
You can use apple cider vinegar as a mouth rinse to restore your pearly whites! Apple cider vinegar is naturally rich in antimicrobial agents that kill bacteria that cause bad breath, bleeding gums, and oral plaques. It also removes teeth stains caused by coffee/tea drinking and smoking.
To use apple cider vinegar as a teeth whitener, dilute a tablespoon of the vinegar on a glass of water. After brushing your teeth, rinse your mouth with the vinegar solution. Do this for a month to achieve the desired results. You can also brush the vinegar directly on the teeth but limit the frequency to avoid teeth sensitivity.
Lemon or Orange Peels
Lemon and/or orange peels contain citric acids that will buff, polish, and whiten the teeth naturally. Just rub the underside of the lemon or orange rind directly on the teeth after brushing. As with most acids, do not overdo the frequency of rubbing the teeth with orange peels to reduce teeth sensitivity.
Strawberries
Celebrities Catherine Zeta-Jones and Tyra Bank credit strawberries for their dazzling smile. Strawberries are rich in fruit acids that bleach stained teeth white. The berry is a rich source of antioxidants that keep the teeth and gums healthy. To use strawberries to whiten teeth, mash a couple of ripe berries in a clean bowl. Then, rub the yummy mush all over the teeth.
