Simple Ways to Naturally Whiten Your Teeth at Home

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Simple Ways to Naturally Whiten Your Teeth at Home

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What Causes Teeth to Look Yellow?

There are multiple factors that cause teeth to become dull and lose their bright, white sparkle.

Certain foods can stain your enamel, which is the outermost layer of your teeth. Additionally, plaque build-up on your teeth can cause them to look yellow.

This type of discoloration can usually be treated with regular cleaning and whitening remedies.

However, sometimes teeth look yellow because the hard enamel has eroded away, revealing the dentin underneath. Dentin is a naturally yellow, bony tissue that lies underneath the enamel.

Here are 7 simple ways you can naturally whiten your teeth.

Try Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is a traditional Indian folk remedy meant to improve oral hygiene and remove toxins from the body.

The practice involves swishing oil around in your mouth to remove bacteria, which can turn into plaque and cause your teeth to look yellow.

Traditionally, Indians used sunflower or sesame oil for oil pulling, but any oil will work.

Coconut oil is a popular choice because it has a pleasant taste and offers many additional health benefits.

Coconut oil is also high in lauric acid, which is known for its ability to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria.

A few studies have shown that daily oil pulling effectively reduces bacteria in the mouth, along with plaque and gingivitis.

Streptococcus mutans is one of the primary types of bacteria in the mouth that cause plaque and gingivitis. One study found that daily swishing with sesame oil significantly reduced Streptococcus mutans in saliva in as little as one week.

Unfortunately, there are no scientific studies to prove that oil pulling whitens your teeth. However, it’s a safe practice and definitely worth a try. Many people claim their teeth are whiter and brighter after regular oil pulling.

To oil pull, put 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and push and pull the oil through your teeth. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, so you may need to wait a few seconds for it to melt. Continue the oil pulling for a full 15–20 minutes.

Be sure to spit the coconut oil into a toilet or trash can, as it could return to solid form once in your drain pipes and cause a clog.

Unlike many other tooth whitening methods, coconut oil pulling does not expose your teeth to acid or other ingredients that erode the enamel. This means it is safe to do daily.

Brush With Baking Soda

Baking soda has natural whitening properties, which is why it’s a popular ingredient in commercial toothpaste.

It’s a mild abrasive that can help scrub away surface stains on teeth.

Additionally, baking soda creates an alkaline environment in your mouth, which prevents bacteria from growing.

This is not a remedy that will whiten your teeth overnight, but you should notice a difference in the appearance of your teeth over time.

Science has not yet proven that brushing with plain baking soda will whiten your teeth, but several studies show that toothpaste with baking soda has a significant whitening effect.

One study found that toothpaste containing baking soda was significantly more effective at removing yellow stains from teeth than standard toothpaste without baking soda. The higher the concentration of baking soda, the greater the effect.

Furthermore, a review of five studies found that toothpaste containing baking soda removed plaque from teeth more effectively than non-baking soda toothpastes.

To use this remedy, mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 2 teaspoons of water and brush your teeth with the paste. You can do this a few times per week.

Use Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent that also kills bacteria in your mouth.

In fact, people have been using hydrogen peroxide for years to disinfect wounds because of its ability to kill bacteria.

Many commercial whitening products contain hydrogen peroxide, although at a much higher concentration than you will use.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any studies to show the effects of rinsing or brushing with hydrogen peroxide alone, but several studies have analyzed commercial toothpastes containing peroxide.

One study found that a toothpaste containing baking soda and 1% hydrogen peroxide led to significantly whiter teeth.

Another study found that brushing with a commercial toothpaste containing baking soda and peroxide twice per day led to 62% whiter teeth in six weeks.

However, there are some questions regarding the safety of hydrogen peroxide.

While heavily diluted concentrations appear safe, strong concentrations or overuse can cause gum irritation and tooth sensitivity. There’s also concern that high doses may cause cancer, but this has not been proven.

One way to use hydrogen peroxide is as a mouthwash before you brush your teeth. Make sure you are using a 1.5% or 3% solution to avoid side effects.

The most common concentration of hydrogen peroxide at the drugstore is a 3% solution. You can easily dilute this concentration to 1.5% by mixing equal parts peroxide and water.

Another way to use hydrogen peroxide is by mixing it with baking soda to make a toothpaste. Combine 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and gently brush your teeth with the mixture.

Limit the use of this homemade paste to a few times per week, as overuse can erode your tooth enamel.

Use Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has been used for centuries as a disinfectant and natural cleaning product.

Acetic acid, which is the main active ingredient in apple cider vinegar, effectively kills bacteria. The antibacterial property of vinegar is what makes it useful for cleaning your mouth and whitening your teeth.

One study performed on cow teeth found that apple cider vinegar does have a bleaching effect on teeth. However, they also found that vinegar may soften the teeth.

The acetic acid in vinegar has the potential to erode the enamel on your teeth. For this reason, you should not use apple cider vinegar every day. You should also limit the amount of time that apple cider vinegar is in contact with your teeth.

To use it as a mouthwash, dilute it with water and swish it around in your mouth for several minutes. Make sure to rinse your mouth with plain water afterward.

We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions, so get an appointment today.

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