Do you want to know how to whiten your teeth naturally? There are several ways to do so without putting your teeth and gums at risk with chemicals you have no idea about! Read here and start your journey to whiter teeth!
How to Whiten Your Teeth The Natural Way
Do you love coffee, tea, or Coke? Do you smoke? Or maybe, your teeth has lost its whiteness as you got older. Truth is, yellowing teeth can be one of the first signs of aging. Let’s face it beauty lovers, yellow teeth can be pretty unattractive, especially when paired with a beautiful red lipstick. The good news is that you can whiten your teeth at home the natural way, which means staying away from commercial teeth whiteners. So, how to whiten your teeth? Here’s a list of teeth whitening techniques to try. But please, do proceed with caution as some people might have allergies to certain ingredients.
1. Brush After Drinking or Eating
Brushing right after eating or drinking is the best way to whiten teeth and prevent staining. However, most of us might be brushing our teeth the wrong way! My dentist told me that brushing the teeth should take 2 minutes and there are specific strokes and areas that need precise cleaning. I’ve obtained a chart above to guide you on how to brush properly.
On the other hand, most foods do not cause staining but if you’re a coffee lover or a smoker, you can pretty much expect to have discolored teeth. If this is the case, then visit your dentist every three months to have your teeth cleaned. Oral Prophylaxis does not just clean the teeth, it gets rid of tar and plaque build up as well.
2. Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide Toothpaste
Instead of using commercial toothpaste that might contain flouride and sodium laurel sulfate (both nasty ingredients by the way), why not make your own toothpaste? This toothpaste recipe is very effective in whitening the teeth. The ingredients include coconut oil to give teeth a bit of creaminess, hydrogen peroxide is for disinfecting, baking soda for cleaning the teeth, and peppermint extract for added flavor.
How to whiten your teeth with this toothpaste? Mix 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/8 cup coconut oil, 1/8 cup hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 tsp. stevia, and 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract. If the mixture is too dry, add more peroxide. This recipe makes for 1/2 cup of toothpaste.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar Mouthwash
Apple cider vinegar is a natural whitening agent for dark spots on your body, and that includes your teeth. The vinegar helps remove stains, whiten teeth, and kill bacteria in your mouth and gums.
Making your own vinegar mouthwash is easy. Just mix 2 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of water. Gargle only once a day. If you want to add essential oil, it’s your prerogative, but do use 100% essential oils. Again, I’d like to remind you that this list of teeth whitening tips are generally effective, but for some people, it might not work the same way. Some people might have allergies or already need professional help to whiten their teeth.
4. Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is one of the best things in the world! It’s a great ingredient for face masks and for whitening the teeth. But what makes it so special? Activated charcoal is oxidized charcoal. It is very porous and attracts chemicals and toxins like a magnet! It’s known to be safe on the teeth since it only removes the bad stuff and leaves the good minerals on your teeth. Plus, it gets rid of bad breath too!
So how to whiten your teeth with this mineral? Just dip your toothbrush in activated charcoal and brush on your teeth. Please be careful not to rub too hard as this might remove the teeth’s natural enamel.
Guess what? You can also use activated charcoal to make your own DIY mascara or super pigmented eyeliner!
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5. Strawberries
Not only are strawberries delicious, they can whiten the teeth too! The acid helps in treating the discoloration. Catherine Zeta Jones kept her teeth sparkling white by simply mashed up about four or five strawberries and rubbed this yummy mixture all over her teeth. Tyra Banks also tried this technique.
If you want to try this technique out, I suggest you add a bit of baking soda to make it more effective. So start by crushing a couple of strawberries until you get a pulpy consistency. Add a bit of baking soda into the mix. Spread the strawberry mixture on your teeth. Leave it there for 3 to 5 minutes and then rinse and brush the teeth as usual.
6. Coconut Oil Pulling
Some people have attested that their teeth have become whiter by applying coconut oil to their teeth after brushing. This technique helps whiten the teeth and improve the health of the gums. How? Coconut oil pulling is also known as oil-swishing. The idea is to let the coconut oil pull out the bacteria in between the teeth and gums.
How to whiten your teeth with this technique? Simply swish a spoonful of coconut oil in your mouth for 5 to 20 minutes. Or you can add a few drops to your toothbrush and brush your teeth. Lastly, you can put some coconut oil on a corner of a clean washcloth and rub it on your teeth.
7. Lemon
Lemon is another fruit that’s very helpful in whitening the teeth. It is a bleaching agent that fights teeth discoloration. Moreover, its citric acid stimulates the production of saliva, which helps in cleaning the mouth. It also has anti-bacterial properties that kill bacteria.
There are various ways on how to whiten your teeth with lemon. One of which is mixing lemon juice and baking soda. Mix 3 tsp. of baking soda, 2 tsp. of lemon juice, and a glass of water. Using a cotton swab, swab the mixture on the teeth for 30 seconds. Do this once/twice every 2-3 weeks.
Don’t like using baking soda? Stick to lemon juice and water. Mix 1 tsp. of lemon juice and water and apply on teeth with your fingers. Leave it on for 5- 10 minutes and then rinse with water. You can do this method twice a week. Another way to use this mixture is to use it as a mouthwash. Instead of equal parts, mix 1 part lemon juice and 2 parts water. You can also add a bit of salt if you like, but if you do, use lukewarm water. Gargle as usual.
Now that you got the juice out of the lemon, peel it! You can apply the peel on the teeth directly. Rub all over the teeth for one to two minutes and then rinse. If you don’t like this method, put the lemon peel in the blender and make a fine paste. You can use this as your toothpaste three times a week.
8. Turmeric
And lastly, let’s not forget how awesome turmeric is for whitening the teeth also. It has anti-inflammatory properties that combat oral problems. It contains curcumin, a compound that has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Additionally, turmeric also helps in making the teeth healthy and strong!
To use this ingredient, simply mix 1/2 tsp. of organic turmeric powder with enough water until you create a fine paste. Use the mixture as your toothpaste. Leave it on the teeth for one to two minutes and then rinse until all the yellow stains are removed.
Don’t like to use it as a toothpaste? Mix 1/2 tsp. of turmeric powder with 1/2 glass of water to make it your mouthwash. Another way you can try is to simply put 1/8 tsp. of turmeric powder on your toothbrush and brush your teeth as usual. Leave the powder on the teeth for 3-5 minutes and then rinse.
Are you brushing your teeth the right way? Check out these brushing mistakes from Real Men Real Style and develop a proper tooth care habit:
I’ve tried using activated charcoal and lemon to whiten my teeth. At first, I wasn’t using it as often as I should but when I did, I noticed that my teeth slightly changed color. The thing with natural remedies is that they work slower, but they’re known to be safer and of course, cheaper too. So if you want to give these methods a try, go ahead, but do proceed with caution and don’t expect the same effectiveness for everyone. Good luck on this and I hope you find the perfect way to whiten your teeth.
Do you have other tips on how to whiten your teeth naturally? We’d love to hear your ideas in the comments section below!
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Editor’s Note – This post was originally published in March 2015 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
