Do you want to whiten your teeth but would rather not use chemical products to bleach them? To be honest there are lots of natural ways that you can whiten your teeth – some which are effective, and some that are not.
Although many natural methods of whitening teeth are still far from proven, there are several that are widely acclaimed. Needless to say they are a good place to start, and there are three in particular that you may want to try out.
Brush Your Teeth with Baking Soda
Brushing with baking soda is arguably one of the easiest ways to whiten your teeth. Due to the fact that it is mildly abrasive it can help to remove some of the surface stains and naturally whiten your teeth in the process. Just be careful that you don’t grind away the enamel of your teeth by brushing too vigorously.
Aside from removing stains, baking soda will also help to stop the growth of bacteria in your mouth, which can prevent stains from getting worse.
Make no mistake brushing your teeth with baking soda is not going to whiten them immediately and the stains won’t disappear overnight. However if you keep at it you should start to gradually notice that some stains begin to fade, and light stains may even vanish completely.
Try Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is a traditional way of cleaning dirt, bacteria and debris from your mouth that originated in India. While not fully proven, there are various benefits associated with oil pulling – including teeth whitening.
All that you need to do to try this method is swish around oil in your mouth to wash it out. It is best to keep swishing around the oil for 15 to 20 minutes if you want it to be effective.
While any type of oil can be used, the more popular options are coconut oil, sesame oil, or sunflower oil. All three have been shown to be effective at whitening teeth to varying degrees.
It may help to add in a little bit of turmeric to the oil. It could potentially help to whiten teeth by keeping plaque at bay and preventing stains too.
Use a Apple Cider Vinegar Mouthwash
Another popular folk remedy for teeth whitening that has been in use for some time is apple cider vinegar. It can be used as a mouthwash after it is diluted in water, and you should swish it around for several minutes.
Keep in mind that apple cider vinegar is acidic, and could start to erode your enamel and damage your teeth if you use it too often. Because of that you should use it infrequently, and always make it a point to rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after you’re done.
The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar is what makes it a good option for teeth whitening however. It help to kill the bacteria in your mouth and cleanse it while removing stains from your teeth.
Final Words
It should be noted that while these three natural methods of teeth whitening are popular and have been shown to be successful in some cases – you should temper your expectations. Overall they will not be as effective as professional teeth whitening in Harley Street or at other dentists.
The main advantage of trying these methods is the fact that they are easy, risk free, and can be done at home. In other words you really have nothing to lose by trying them out, and you could end up pleasantly surprised by the results if you do.