natural methods of whitening your teeth

Natural Methods of Whitening Your Teeth

If you’ve got stained or discoloured teeth and are looking for natural home remedies to obtain whiter pearly whites, you’ve got lots of options that have been touted for producing bright results. None of them hold a candle to the results you can obtain from a dentist near you, but here are a few that might be worth trying.

Baking soda

The idea of using baking soda to whiten your teeth probably doesn’t surprise you considering that baking soda is a common ingredient of some toothpastes. To brush with baking soda alone, simply put some baking soda onto your wet toothbrush, and brush with that baking soda for a couple of minutes once daily. Remember to rinse your teeth thoroughly and don’t use baking soda for more than a few days because it can damage the enamel layer of your teeth.

Oil pulling

There’re traditional remedies for teeth whitening in Winnipeg, and then there are ancient remedies for teeth whitening near you. Oil pulling is part of an ancient Ayurvedic technique called kavala or gundusha. Oil pulling involves swishing a tablespoon of oil — coconut oil is a popular choice — in your mouth and pulling that oil between your teeth. Many people report seeing whitening results after doing that for 15 to 20 minutes daily.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a common household antiseptic found in many first aid kits. It’s also a core ingredient of many bleaching agents used by your dentist in Winnipeg. If you want to try to get the teeth whitening benefits of hydrogen peroxide at home on your own, here are a couple of options. Try diluting equal parts of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water, then use it as mouthwash. Alternatively, make a thick paste out of 3% hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, then use it just like toothpaste. Be sure to rinse your teeth carefully before spitting out your concoctions.

Activated charcoal

Activated charcoal is another traditional technique for whitening teeth. Activated charcoal has specific physical properties that help it to bind to stains on your teeth which, after brushing for just a couple of minutes before rinsing thoroughly, can leave you with whiter teeth. You can purchase activated charcoal at many health and wellness food and beauty shops and drug stores.

Papain

The enzyme papain is touted for its ability to remove superficial stains from the surface of your teeth. Where can you find papain naturally? In papayas, especially slightly green or unripe papayas that have the added benefit — when it comes to the health of your teeth — of lower sugar content. Many people find that other fruits such as pineapples, strawberries and apples also produce teeth-whitening effects. Be aware, though, that the highly acidic juices of these fruits can also damage the enamel on your teeth over time and long exposures. Be sure to brush and rinse your teeth thoroughly.

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is another common and inexpensive pantry item. It contains acetic acid, a natural disinfectant substance that can also produce bleaching effects. When applied to your teeth, apple cider vinegar will prevent the growth of potentially harmful bacteria in your mouth and help remove stains from the surface of your teeth. If you’re going to try a mouthwash made of apple cider vinegar to try and get whiter teeth on an occasional basis, be sure to dilute the vinegar with water and rinse thoroughly after using this combination. Vinegar is highly acidic and can damage the enamel on your teeth if used daily or on an ongoing basis.

Not every stain can be removed from your teeth the same way. None of these natural home options will achieve the type of whitening results that your dentist in Winnipeg can produce in a single appointment. If you’ve tried these options and want more dramatic results, make an appointment with a dentist near you to get the whitest teeth you can as quickly as possible.