With age, you can expect slight discolouration and staining of your teeth. This is natural, especially as we consume foods that are high in sugar, or that stain our teeth, like coffee. Fortunately, there are many strategies to get whiter teeth now! Although further research is needed for these natural remedies, you can even use products you’d find at your local grocery store. Keep on reading to learn how to whiten teeth with natural products at home!
There are plenty of products to choose from if you’re looking for a safe and effective at-home remedy. While these might not have the industrial strength of some bleaches or other whitening products, natural products are gentler.
Dawson Dental Hanover has you covered if you’re looking for more information on how to whiten teeth without all the harsh chemicals!
How to Whiten Teeth Naturally
Before we look at how to whiten your teeth, let’s take a look at some common causes of teeth discolouration. Remember that the cause and severity of your stains are important to consider when deciding what treatment to pursue. Check out this quick list of the common causes and bring them up with your dentist at your next visit:
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- High sugar foods
- Coffee or tea
- Smoking
- Aging
- Improper oral hygiene
- Certain medications
- Cancer treatment
- Early-Age exposure to antibiotics
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Basically, your teeth turn yellow because your enamel thins over time, or you consume staining foods and beverages. With that in mind, let’s look at your best natural options for how to whiten teeth at home.
1. Get Whiter Teeth by Making Dietary Changes
Certain foods and beverages are problematic when it comes to oral health. Sure, we all love a morning coffee or a late-night soda, but these are known culprits for staining and enamel decay. Acidic foods make teeth look yellow by wearing down enamel. Also, chewing certain high-fiber foods helps neutralize the acid in your mouth. Leafy greens and beans help you produce more saliva, which also reduces your mouth’s acidity.
2. Natural Whitening with Fruit
Didn’t we just finish saying that acidic foods are bad? Well, there’s always the outlier. Papain and bromelain are enzymes that occur in papayas and pineapples. And you guessed it– these enzymes may help to whiten teeth! A 2020 study found that bleaching gels with these enzymes have immense potential to whiten teeth. More research is needed on this topic. Just to be safe, it is not recommended to rub your teeth with these fruits!
3. Quitting Tobacco and Nicotine Products
It’s no secret that smoking is bad for your health, but it may affect your oral health in unexpected ways. One of the best all-natural things you can do to whiten your teeth is to quit smoking! Over time, smoking causes yellow and grey teeth staining. Inflammation and gum disease lead to rotting, black teeth, bad breath, and receding gums. You can even lose a tooth with excessive smoking. If you’re looking to improve the whiteness of your smile, the best first thing to do? Quit smoking.
Looking for more information about how smoking affects your oral health? Check out this article!
4. Get Whiter Teeth by Trying Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is the method of washing the mouth with oil to remove problematic particles. Things like dirt, bacteria, and debris all affect your smile’s appearance. Oils aren’t a substitute for good oral hygiene habits, but there is some research that suggests that certain oils may help whiten teeth.
Most dental associations consider the practice to be unconventional, but there’s little harm in trying these oils to see if they work for you.
The best oils for oil pulling are:
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- Coconut Oil
- Sesame Oil
- Sunflower Oil
If you’re looking for something with a stronger detergent action, try out this next tip!
5. Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
You can actually use both of these ingredients on their own to whiten your teeth. On its own, baking soda gently polishes the surface. There were worries about teeth abrasion, but a recent 2017 study found it to be safe. Even more, there’s also some evidence that suggests that baking soda helps fight bacteria.
Hydrogen peroxide is a mild bleach. Brushing with this once or twice a day for a week. Dentists commonly use hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to whiten teeth in the office. However, it’s best to use this in a limited fashion as it may increase sensitivity.
You can mix these two ingredients to form a paste and get the best of both worlds! There are many recipes for this natural product online. If the taste is troubling you, try adding peppermint oil!
How to Whiten Teeth? Good Oral Hygiene Habits
There is no substitute for good oral hygiene habits. If you want to have white teeth, the best thing you can do is brush your teeth daily and floss. Tools like electric toothbrushes and water flossers help out a lot and don’t require harsh chemicals. The main takeaway is that natural teeth whitening, or natural oral care in general, can be very helpful to a regiment of good hygiene. But it’s not a stop-gap for poor brushing and flossing.
If your plaque and tartar build up is severe enough, you may need to consider professional cleaning.
Natural Whitening: What-Not-to-Do
Remember that it’s natural for your teeth to change colour as you age. Very few people have naturally white teeth throughout their entire life. The good news is that there are many teeth-whitening strategies you can use at home. With all the information out there about whitening your teeth, we’ve collected a quick list of things to stay away from. Sage wisdom is one thing, but when it comes to your oral health, always double-check.
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- lemons
- oranges
- apple cider vinegar
- activated charcoal
Takeaway: Natural Whitening Can Help Whiten Teeth
As is the case with most natural treatments, more research is needed to prove the claims of these natural remedies. But that doesn’t mean that being invested in your oral health is a bad idea! Building proper habits, including natural teeth whitening, is important for a brighter smile!
Looking for more information on tooth whitening? Check out this article on different strategies you can use, even during the sugary holiday seasons.
If you feel like you’re struggling with tooth strains, contact Dawson Dental Hanover today. All your sensitive teeth need is a little tender love and care from our skilled dentists and hygienists.