A lot of people now spend so much money on a dental treatment known as teeth whitening. While this is now a common process, some persons still have some concerns about it. This is understandable since most whitening products contain chemicals.
Thankfully, you do not necessarily need to use these whitening products before you get whiter teeth. There are some natural methods that you can use at home to improve the color of your dentition. In this article, we will list and explain some of these home remedies.
Reasons Teeth Changes from the Natural Color
There are so many factors that can cause your dentition to lose its white, bright sparkle to become yellow or dull. One major cause of this problem is some of the foods we eat. Some foods are capable of staining and changing the color of your enamel.
Plaque build-up is another major culprit. If plaque is left unattended for a long time, it can cause your pearly whites to begin to appear yellow. Using regular whitening and cleaning remedies can easily take care of these types of discoloration.
However, some discoloration may be a lot more severe. One major cause of severe dental discoloration is when the enamel gets eroded, in such case, the dentin which is underneath the enamel is revealed. You can read this article to find out the beverages and food that can result in this condition. Since the dentin is naturally yellow and bony, once revealed, the teeth will look yellow.
Unfortunately, this condition is irreversible because the enamel does not have living cells so it can’t grow back. However, the enamel is quite tough and so erosion will take a very long time. Therefore, those who already have this condition can manage it and reduce the chances of it getting worse.
Now that we know all that, let us now discuss some of the natural methods that can help improve the color of your dentition.
Natural Methods for Whiter Teeth
The following natural remedies will help your teeth become whiter and make you more confident to smile and dazzle…
1. Oil Pulling
This is an Indian remedy that has been around through generations. It helps improve dental hygiene while also riding the body from toxins. To do this, you simply need to swish oil around the mouth. The oil will then remove bacteria that can become plaque and causing the dentition to become unnaturally yellow.
Traditionally, sesame or sunflower oil was used for this procedure, but you can use just about any oil for it. A common choice is coconut oil, and we also recommend it because it tastes so pleasant and also offers a lot of health benefits. Visit https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil to learn about the health benefits of coconut oil. It also contains a high volume of lauric acid, lauric acid is known to have the ability to kill bacteria and reduce inflammation.
Studies have proven that oil pulling daily reduces gingivitis and plaque. However, no study backs up the theory that pulling oil helps whiten dentition. But a lot of people have testified about having brighter and whiter dentition since they started doing oil pulling regularly. Since it is safe, we believe giving it a trial is a great idea.
To do this procedure, simply put a tablespoon of your chosen oil inside your mouth, then start to push then pull it through the teeth. Do this for about 15 to 20 minutes then spit the oil into your trashcan. Doing this daily is recommended if changes are to be observed.
2. Use Baking Soda to Brush
Baking soda is a common ingredient in a lot of commercial kinds of toothpaste, and this is due to the whitening properties which it contains. Since it is mildly abrasive, it can be used to scrub off stains on the surface of the teeth.
It also causes an alkaline movement that is sure to prevent bacteria growth. This remedy will not provide an overnight improvement in your dental appearance. Therefore, you need patience and consistency if you are to get a noticeable difference.
3. Introduce Vegetables and Fruits to Your Diet
This is good for not just your oral health but also your body. Chewing on raw, crunchy fruits can rub off plaque as you chew; however, this is no alternative for brushing off plaque. There are claims that pineapple and strawberries can help improve the color of teeth.
Pineapple
Some kinds of toothpaste are known to contain bromelain, which is an enzyme that is also present in pineapples. Also, a study shows that toothpaste that has bromelain is much more effective when it comes to removing stains from the teeth than other kinds of toothpaste.
Although, no evidence can show that pineapples have this same effect. But, hey, what is the harm in trying?
Strawberry
Baking soda and strawberries mixture is a whitening natural method that celebrities have made popular. While science does not back this procedure up, its proponents claim that strawberry’s malic acid removes teeth discoloration. While the baking soda helps to buff the stains away.
Strawberries can be used to exfoliate the teeth and make it look whiter, but it does not penetrate the stains. If you choose to use this method, then we recommend that you limit the use to just a couple of times weekly. A study has proven that excessive use of this mixture can cause damage to your enamel.
Unproven Methods
Some other natural whitening remedies are also available apart from the ones already mentioned. However, these other methods are unproven; that is, they do not have any scientific proof of being effective or even safe.
Some of these unproven methods are…
- Kaolin Clay: people who use this remedy claim that the clay has properties that remove teeth stains.
- Activated Charcoal: using powdered charcoal to brush the teeth is said to remove stain and toxin from the teeth.
- Fruit Peels: rubbing fruit peels like banana, orange, and lemon is said to make the teeth whiter.
Straightening of teeth is another dental procedure that a lot of people are interested in. Hence the topic is sure to come up in dental discussions. Therefore, you can find out more about Smile Direct Club versus Byte and then decide on which of them is the best option for you.
Conclusion
Teeth whitening is something a lot of people are trying out these days. However, if you have concerns about this procedure then maybe a home remedy is the best bet to help you get that brighter smile. This article discusses some of the remedies that can help you achieve this.