Over time, teeth begin to lose thair natural white color. Bad habits, bad food and drink, and simple age can all conspire to mar your otherwise pearly whites. Recently, teeth whitening has gained in popularity as people have artificially reversed this process.
If you want to whiten your teeth, you probably know the standard options: go to the dentist and get the work done professionally, or use nasty home products that are no fun to work with, especially if you have sensitive teeth. If you are tired of these two options, or if you don’t have the budget for them, never fear – here are twelve natural ways to whiten teeth that won’t harm your smile nor lighten your wallet.
Note that you can apply these ways to a single tooth or to all your teeth, depending on your particular needs.
1. You need to know what kind of stains your dealing with. Stains on the surface of the tooth – extrinsic stains – are caused by foods, drinks, and other factors. Since these are usually confined to the surface, they can usually be removed with the constant application of a natural way to whiten teeth. However, intrinsic stains – those that stem from medical issues – may not repond to this treatment. They will need professional help from a dentist, who may use techniques like laser teeth whitening.
2. Probably the best way to whiten teeth naturally is to simply brush and floss regularly. Use toothpaste that claims to ‘whiten’ the teeth and brush at least once in the morning and once in the evening. Floss during these times as well. By doing this, you’ll set a nice foundation for oral health, one that will help bring out the natural white color of your teeth. Easy!
3. Take some baking soda and brush it into your teeth. Rinse it off. The baking soda will help remove stains from coffee, tea, red wine, and aging that make your teeth every color in the rainbow except for white. This is like what you get at the dentist’s office, but if you know how to apply it yourself, you can get this treatment any time.
4. Mix a little hydrogen peroxide with equal parts water and rinse with it. Do this at least once a day. This powerful chemical will help whiten your teeth while also killing bacteria that are the cause of many dental health issues. You can also try mixing in a little Listerine to improve the taste and kill more bacteria.
5. How about the best of both worlds – mix both peroxide and baking soda to form a toothpaste. Only use this once in a while, though – it’s so powerful that it can remove both stains and tooth enamel fast. Keep it as the ‘big gun’ in your teeth whitenting arsenal.
6. Try mixing lemon juice and baking soda. Also use this one only rarely, as the acidity of the lemon juice can hurt your teeth if applied too often.
7. Combine a strawberry and baking soda to form a very fruity toothpaste. Apply it to your teeth, let it sit for a few minutes, and then brush your teeth, removing all traces of the berry.
8. Some foods can also help you keep your teeth whitened. For instance, eating an apple after a meal is a great way to cleanse your teeth if you don’t have the chance to immediately brush.
9. There is also plenty of tooth whitening gum products out there that claim to help whiten teeth. Whether or not these actually work isn’t clear, but it can’t hurt to chew a piece or two after you eat a meal if you can’t brush.
10. Make lifestyle changes. If there are any things you do regularly – like drink coffee or smoke – that contribute to the stains, try to avoid them as much as possible. In addition, eat a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables to give your body and teeth the nutrients they need to be as healthy as can be.
11. Before trying any of these methods, do your research to find the risks and benefits of each. For some, leaving them on too long or applying them incorrectly can cause serious and long term damage to your teeth. Always check with a dentist or other professional before attempting these ways.
12. Of course, you could always try those home products like strips and gels that purport to whiten your teeth. Before using any of these products, check with your dentist and find reviews online to make sure the product is both safe and effective.
