We’re all wishing we had a brighter and whiter smile, though many of us cannot afford expensive clinical teeth whiteners to get instant whitening results. Not to mention that some of these products can be incredibly harmful and there are much safer and more affordable ways to promote long-term oral health as well as whiten your teeth. In this article, we have outlined 6 of the best and safest DIY methods to achieve whiter teeth and healthier oral hygiene without causing damage to your gnashers!
The Problem With Clinical Teeth Whiteners
Often, the best methods for whitening your teeth are natural. Whether it’s natural ingredients found in formulas of eco-conscious products or DIY products that you create yourself with beneficial substances, choosing to invest your time and energy with these teeth whitening methods will promote long-term tooth health as well as sustained whiteness. Together with these methods, investing in a clinically proven, safe supplement formula produced by a reputable manufacturer that has your best interests at heart can also improve the rate at which you experience these benefits. As opposed to clinical teeth whiteners, these products include quality natural ingredients that not only support overall wellbeing but also support oral health and gums by promoting good bacteria, balancing pH levels, and expelling toxins.
DIY Methods To Whiten Your Teeth Without Damaging Them
Brushing And Flossing Regularly
Dentists claim that you should brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day and for good reason. While a simple tip, brushing and flossing regularly is the most basic and essential way to keep your teeth clean, promote healthier gums, and minimize the impact of yellow stains and discoloration. This is because brushing eliminates bacteria and prevents plaque buildup that is responsible for staining the teeth and flossing removes the bacteria that gets lodged with food in between the teeth.
If you want to improve the quality of your brushing and flossing as well as support efficacious teeth whitening with this basic tip, then consider purchasing a soft-bristled toothbrush as well as some all-natural teeth whitening toothpaste. The soft-bristled brush will gently clean your teeth and avoid scraping off enamel or harming the gums while the all-natural teeth whitening toothpaste provides ingredients that promote whiter teeth without the potentially harmful ingredients such as artificial colorants and sweeteners.
Brushing With Baking Soda
While many consider baking soda to be an abrasive substance, the ingredient is actually only mildly abrasive and is not particularly harmful when used in moderation. Small quantities can be found within many toothpaste formulas, however, generally not enough to have the stain-removing effects that marketers claim they do. The benefit of concocting your own DIY baking soda toothpaste is that you can deliver a more effective quantity of the ingredient necessary to scrub stains away. While baking soda may not whiten your teeth overnight, using a baking soda toothpaste every second or third night may have long-term whitening effects.
Another benefit of brushing with baking soda is that the ingredient creates an alkaline state within the mouth that is responsible for preventing the growth of bacteria, which can lead to stains and damage.
Eating Fruits And Vegetables
Eating healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, regularly is beneficial for your body and your teeth. Crunchy fruits and vegetables naturally scrub away stains as you chew and also provide your body with the nutrients necessary to protect your teeth from harmful bacteria and plaque. Two teeth healthy fruits are strawberries and pineapples.
Strawberries contain malic acid that is responsible for removing discoloration from the teeth. While there is yet to be sufficient evidence proving the use of strawberries to prevent yellow teeth, studies have shown that a combination of strawberry and baking soda produces less color change than commercial whitening products. If opting for this method, be sure to brush with this concoction only a few times each week as baking soda’s abrasive properties can cause damage if used excessively.
Combatting Stains Before They Happen
One of the most effective ways of keeping your teeth white and clean is minimizing your intake of things that are known to cause extreme discoloration. We have outlined a few tips to help you combat stains before they happen:
- Limit intake of staining food and beverage: Products like wine, coffee, and soda contain various chemicals and ingredients that are known to stain the teeth. Limiting your intake of products like these can significantly help in keeping your teeth whiter for longer. You should also consider using a straw to help avoid direct contact of the liquids with your teeth. Giving your teeth a quick brush after consuming these types of products will also help limit the damage they cause.
- Limit intake of sugar: The reason sodas stain the teeth is because the excessive quantities of sugar within these drinks harm teeth health and promote the attack of bacteria and plaque. Studies also indicate that sugar is a contributor to the growth of the bacteria, Streptococcus mutans, which causes plaque and gingivitis. If you have a sweet tooth and have a hard time cutting sugar from your diet completely, you may want to look into some natural sugar alternatives.
- Get enough calcium: Enamel erosion and the exposure of yellow dentin underneath the enamel are caused by over-brushing, eating unhealthy foods, and poor oral hygiene. One of the key substances that helps prevent the erosion of enamel is calcium. Eating foods and products that are rich in calcium will provide your teeth with the necessary support to stop stains and damage before they happen.
Practicing Oil Pulling
The traditional Indian remedy of oil pulling is making waves in Western alternative medicine as it is said to improve oral hygiene and reduce the prominence of yellow stains. In addition, oil pulling is said to draw out toxins from the teeth and body. And while research continues to be conducted, current sources argue that oil pulling reduces the presence of the harmful bacteria Streptococcus mutans in the saliva, a bacteria responsible for increasing the rate at which stains occur on the teeth.
To practice oil pulling, swish a tablespoon of coconut oil around your mouth for a minimum of 5 minutes, then spit the oil out, and rinse your mouth out. Any oil will work, however, coconut oil is one of the most beneficial oils currently on the market. This is because coconut oil is high in inflammation-reducing lauric acid.
Using Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent that can be used to clean wounds, and more recently used to whiten teeth. It has powerful bacteria-killing properties and a dose of hydrogen peroxide can help combat the growth of stain-causing bacteria in the mouth. Commercial products typically contain hydrogen peroxide, though at a dose far too high for the teeth. These products ultimately end up causing excessive long-term damage as they strip away protective layers of the teeth. Mixing up your own dose at home will ensure that you use a more accurate and minimal quantity of hydrogen peroxide to experience the long-term benefits of whiter teeth without the harmful side effects. The most common way to use hydrogen peroxide is as equal parts 3% hydrogen peroxide and water diluted mouthwash after brushing every second or third day.
Your Takeaway
There you have it, 6 simple yet effective ways to whiten your teeth that do not harm your oral health! Whether it be a minimal dose of hydrogen peroxide used as a mouthwash before bed or brushing with baking soda to remove unwanted yellow stains, you can improve your smile without breaking the bank or your teeth.
