Want whiter teeth? Certain food and drinks contain chemicals that stain the enamel on our teeth, which gives them that yellow appearance. One way to avoid this is to practice preventative dental hygiene, like not consuming coffee and other food and drinks that we know make our teeth yellow. That’s pretty unrealistic, though.
Here are a few different home-remedy options you might not have known can whiten your teeth naturally.
1. Brush with Baking Soda
Yes, it’s really okay to use baking soda to clean your teeth! In fact, it’s a popular ingredient in most commercial toothpastes because of its whitening properties. You won’t be able to tell a difference overnight, but if you maintain good brushing habits over time, you may notice a whiter, brighter smile.
2. Use Hydrogen Peroxide
It’s a natural bleaching agent and it helps kill bacteria in your mouth. And yes, it’s safe to use as long as it’s heavily diluted. You can usually find it in the ingredients list on most toothpastes.
You can also use it as a mouthwash before you brush your teeth, as long as you’re using a 1.5% or 3% solution to avoid any negative side effects. White teeth, here we come!
3. Try Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is the practice of swishing oil around in your mouth to kill bacteria that can turn into plaque and cause your teeth to look yellow. Sunflower and sesame oil are good options, but the most popular for this particular use is coconut oil because of its pleasant taste and other health benefits.
4. Don’t Skip Fruits & Veggies
There’s no substitute for actually brushing your teeth, but eating crunchy raw fruits and veggies can help rub the plaque away as you chew. Although these claims aren’t backed up, some say that strawberries and pineapples are their go-to teeth-whitening fruits.
5. Limit Your Sugar Intake
Diets high in sugar promote the growth of the primary type of bacteria that causes issues like plaque and gingivitis. If you have a sweet tooth, make sure you’re brushing soon after consuming foods high in sugar to avoid promoting an environment for this type of bacteria to thrive.
While these methods are good habits to add to your dental hygiene routine, never underestimate regular brushing and flossing. Without that, there’s no way you’ll be able to achieve the pearly white smile you’ve always wanted.
Already tried out these home remedies with little results?Tired of waiting? We also offer teeth-whitening services to speed up the process. Learn more about those here.
