Dental care is very important and keeping your smile bright and white is a part of it.
Teeth can start to turn yellow from a number of things such as plaque build up or certain foods staining your enamel. Whatever the case may be, it happens to all of us. How often have we all found ourselves looking for ways to whiten our teeth?
Though the fastest and most effective way to whiten your teeth is to get them professionally done, it is not the only way. Let’s explore some whitening methods you can try from home.
Your Diet
Your diet can play a big role in the overall health of not just your body, but also your teeth. Changing your diet will not do much for already yellow teeth, but it can prevent further yellowing or staining.
Avoid drinking coffee, red wine, dark teas, and soda. All of these beverages are known for staining teeth. It is probably overwhelming to think about cutting all these things out of your life, so if you do happen to drink any of these, try using a straw and brushing your teeth shortly after. This can help limit the amount of staining that you experience.
Acidic foods and dark berries can also stain your teeth, so again, try to avoid these foods, but if you can’t, make sure to brush after eating them.
In addition, limiting sugary foods and increase calcium intake can strengthen the enamel in your teeth and help keep them sparkling white.
This probably goes without saying, but cutting out the use of cigarettes and tobacco can decrease nicotine stains, enamel decay, gum disease, and improve overall dental health.
Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is the process of swishing and rinsing your mouth out with oil. Coconut oil is most commonly used because of its taste and already known health benefits.
Oil pulling is thought to not only remove dirt, debris, and bacteria, but also whiten teeth.
Oil pulling is proven to improve dental health and reduce certain bacteria and many people swear by it, however it is not proven to effectively whiten teeth.
Brushing with Baking Soda
Brushing your teeth with baking soda can wear away stains on the teeth without damaging the enamel. It can also fight bacteria and prevent it from growing back.
Toothpastes that contain baking soda have significantly helped reduce yellow stains and plaque when compared to standard toothpastes.
However, the effects of baking soda happen gradually and it will be a while before there is a noticeable change.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Using hydrogen peroxide can also help whiten your teeth. Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent and it can help kill bacteria in your mouth.
When paired with baking soda, hydrogen peroxide can help achieve a noticeably whiter smile. It is recommended that the pair is used for one to two minutes a day for a week, however long term use will damage the teeth.
There are ways to naturally whiten your teeth, but none of these tactics will give you pearly whites overnight. If you are looking for immediate whitening, professional whitening would probably be the best method for you.
