Are you dreaming of snow-white teeth? Of course you are! Hollywood smile adds charm and takes years off. Do you know natural and budget-friendly methods for whiter teeth? Test home remedies!
Teeth lose their natural color because of various factors.
We all start life with teeth having one of various shades of white; it even happens to be ivory, gray/bluish or yellowish. The color of your teeth largely depends on the genes because they decide about the remineralization, bone color, shade and thickness of enamel.
Sadly, many of us observe their teeth going yellowish or stained over time. What causes yellow shade of teeth?
Causes of yellowish teeth
There are various things that determine the color of our teeth. We rarely realize that even every-day things (such as food, medication, etc.) may cause tooth discoloration. What do I mean exactly?
The most common causes of yellowish teeth and stains include:
- drinking too much coffee, tea, red wine.
- habitual cigarette smoking.
- eating fruits such as cherries and berries.
- taking some medication and products with iron.
- careless or irregular tooth brushing routine.
The color of teeth also changes when we age. The older we are, the darker their color gets.
How to whiten teeth?
Hands down, the easiest and the most popular way involves using whitening toothpastes (or other whitening products e.g. stripes, gels). There’s one thing to remember, though. Some whitening products may cause harm because they damage the enamel and tooth surface, making teeth hypersensitive.
Another method involves having teeth whitened at the dentist’s office. You just need to remember that sanding, ultrasounds and other plaque removal techniques are pricey and need to be repeated.
If we want to restore the natural white color, it’s best to use DIY whitening remedies. I’ve rounded up the most popular ones.
Home remedies for whiter teeth
Sometimes, changing daily habits or doing at-home, uncomplicated treatments is enough to restore whiteness to teeth. How to get round to it?
1. Turmeric teeth whitening
You might be surprised that yellow turmeric is able to make your teeth whiter. It’s true! A turmeric paste (teaspoon turmeric + spoon coconut oil) has an antibacterial effect and reduces yellowish shade of teeth very quickly. The effects are visible after just seven days.
2. Activated charcoal teeth whitening
Brilliantly-detoxifying charcoal enjoys great popularity these days. Even though it is more common in cleansing face masks, it’s worthwhile to use activated charcoal for making teeth whiter. How? Mix charcoal powder with coconut oil or add it to your toothpaste. Brushing the teeth with the mixture brings results after a week or so.
3. Baking soda teeth whitening
A baking soda mouthwash or toothpaste enriched with this very ingredient is another great tool for making the teeth whiter. It has an antibacterial effect, cleanses the teeth and is likely to make your teeth whiter as a consequence. Still, you mustn’t overuse the method because it might wear off the enamel.
4. Lemon juice teeth whitening
Ascorbic acid has been proven to have a whitening effect. That’s why your tea is lighter when you add some lemon. The juice extracted from lemon has a similar effect on teeth provided that you drink it regularly. You may as well use lemon juice as a mouthwash but be careful with this home remedy – the acidic pH might cause harm in excess.
5. Hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening
Hydrogen peroxide also has brightening properties that you can make use of. It disinfects and is recommended for rinsing the mouth e.g. when you suffer from gum diseases. At the same time, it’s another method which should not be overused.
6. Salt teeth whitening
Some people use salt to make teeth whiter but I must warn you. It’s isn’t tasty. A salt mouthwash might even remove some minor stains but it’s not the most effective whitening remedy. Using salt mouthwash too often might cause gum irritation and enamel damage.
7. Oil teeth whitening
You can use oils to whiten the teeth e.g. coconut oil, linseed oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil. Oil pulling is the most delicate whitening method – oils cleanse the mouth, have antibacterial effect so they also improve the health and color of teeth.
Are DIY teeth whitening methods safe?
Home remedies are way safer than e.g. regular use of readymade whitening products which often feature numerous chemicals.
Nevertheless, you mustn’t overuse home methods either. When used from time to time, they won’t do harm but some DIY remedies for whiter teeth might have a negative effect on the enamel, especially when overused. As a consequence, teeth are weaker, hypersensitive and prone to plaque and gum diseases.
