People living in the United States of America alone spend around 1 billion dollars on teeth whitening products in one year itself. This goes on to show the amount of consciousness that has developed over the years and the desire to have pearly white teeth. Teeth become yellowish gradually, as a person ages, which may be due to thinning of the topmost white enamel layer or it can be due to the deposit of stains over time. If you want to know some natural techniques of whitening teeth, take a look at the list mentioned below.
Coconut Oil / Oil Pulling
This method is used to not only whiten your teeth but also remove toxins and bacteria from the mouth. Swishing your mouth with a tablespoon of coconut oil is an age-old practice, and it has its benefits like the removal of plaque and stain from the tooth surface, which is responsible for the yellowish discoloration. Coconut is pleasant to taste as well, thus being more popular than sunflower or sesame oil. One of the major bacteria in the mouth is called Streptococcus mutans, and studies have shown that oil pulling with coconut oil reduces the bacteria content remarkably, as soon as one week.
Brush with Baking Soda and lemon juice
The use of baking soda for teeth whitening is due to two major reasons, for which it has been used along with toothpaste and other commercial products as well. Firstly, the grainy texture adds to its abrasive power, which removes stains and deposits from the tooth surface and whitens it. Secondly, they make the oral environment alkaline, which prevents bacterial growth that prefers acidic surroundings.
Apple Cider Vinegar
This is also a tried and tested method for a long time to clean your teeth and free your mouth of any harmful bacteria. Acetic acid is the major constituent, which is responsible for killing the microorganisms. If overused or used in a higher concentration, it can erode the outer enamel surface of your teeth.
A strawberry
The whitening property of strawberries is due to the presence of malic acid in them. Ideally, it should be mixed with baking soda, and together they remove deposits and discoloration from the surface of the teeth and penetrate and remove stains. The results are not immediate and not as effective as the others are, but they are there for you to see.
Use Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide has been used for a long time for disinfecting wound because of its inherent property to kill bacteria. Therefore, it is used for whitening teeth and for giving you a healthy oral cavity. Commercially, hydrogen peroxide is used as an adjuvant with baking soda and added to toothpaste for maximum whitening effect.
Activated charcoal
Charcoal has been used to clean and whiten teeth for a long time. When it is cured, it leads to the formation of activated charcoal. These have numerous pores on its surface, which act like magnets and take up any deposits, plaque, stains, toxins, and bacteria from the surface of the tooth and gives a shiny and white appearance. The health of the oral cavity is also majorly improved. It is dispensed in a variety of products like toothpaste, gels, tablets, powder etcetera and you can choose anyone according to your suitability.
Prevent tooth stains before they happen
Limit staining food and beverages- there are certain substances, which cause staining like tea, coffee, red wine, tobacco, berries etcetera. Also limit their consumption and lightly brush once after you have eaten.
Limit sugar in your diet- sugar is the main reason why bacteria grow on the tooth and causes decay and plaque deposit. Therefore, cut down on the amount of sugar in your diet.
Get plenty of calcium in your diet- one major reason for discoloration is the loss of enamelfrom the surface of the tooth. A calcium-rich diet like cheese, milk and other dairy products and vegetables prevent the early erosion of the enamel.
These seven ways of teeth whitening have been popular mainly because there are no harmful chemicals involved and they are completely natural.
Krishan Jangir