Sparkling white teeth is something that all of us want and try to achieve it using various methods that include teeth whitening products. According to a study, people in the United States of America have spent more than 1.4 Billion US dollars on home teeth whitening products and a total of 11 Billion US dollars on various skin whitening procedures. Now marketers and brands recommend and also assure results using these teeth whitening products. Still, one thing no one mentions is the harmful human-made chemicals and artificial ingredients that are present in them.
Did you know that average whitening toothpaste and teeth whitener consists of products like triclosan, plastic polymers, hydrated silica, etc.? Thanks to the substances mentioned above and chemicals that make these products so expensive. Besides burning a hole in your pocket, regular usage of tooth whitening products can cause irritation and pain in the gums by increasing sensitivity. Does it mean that you lose all hopes for a sparkling white smile and live with bad teeth that have become yellow? No, you can still get rid of the bad yellowish teeth and achieve sparkling white teeth without breaking the bank. The best part is, you can do this at your home according to your convenience and not worry about the harmful chemicals and artificial ingredients. Let’s explore various inexpensive ways to whiten your teeth at home in detail, further in this article.
Before trying out the ways to whiten your teeth at home, it is better to know and understand what causes the discoloration of the teeth from white to yellow. The outermost layer of the teeth is enamel, and the intake of certain foods like tea, coffee, tomato-based sauces, berries, etc., stains it.
Coconut Oil Pulling
This ancient Indian technique of coconut oil pulling can surely help you in the process of teeth whitening and achieving good oral hygiene overall. The high concentration of lauric acid helps to remove any bacteria on the surface of the teeth and gums. Also, the antibacterial nature of the coconut oil greatly helps in getting rid of any gum diseases. Take a tablespoon of coconut oil and place it in your mouth, now swish/ swirl through your teeth like you use a mouthwash for about 5-20 minutes. Once done, dab a little amount of baking soda on to the toothbrush and brush your teeth as the mild corrosive nature of baking soda helps to get rid of any residue/ stains on the teeth. Rinse as usual with water after the brush. You can practice the oil pulling method with any oil. It is not mandatory to use only coconut oil. However, due to its antibacterial nature and the edible taste, many people prefer coconut oil pulling to achieve sparkling white teeth. It is best to practice oil pulling regularly to achieve the best results.
Brush with Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide paste
This technique is the easiest and hassle-free among all. Hydrogen Peroxide acts as a bleach in most of the teeth whitening products as it bleaches any stains on the surface of the teeth. This substance, combined with baking soda, eliminates the yellow stains due to its corrosive nature allowing the hydrogen peroxide to stay longer on the teeth by making it thicker. Add one tablespoon of baking soda with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide in a small dish and mix well until it becomes a thin paste. Dab this paste onto a soft toothbrush and brush your teeth uniformly for about 2-3 minutes. Once done, rinse and brush with a regular toothbrush. Repeat this method regularly to achieve better results. Baking soda is highly alkaline in nature that keeps the bacteria away from teeth and restricts any plaque buildup. You can eliminate hydrogen peroxide from the paste and still get rid of the bad yellowish teeth by just brushing your teeth with baking soda if you are skeptical about using hydrogen peroxide on your teeth.
Brush with Turmeric powder paste
Apart from working wonders on achieving clear skin, turmeric is a great natural ingredient to maintain good oral hygiene. As it is highly microbial, it helps in getting rid of any inflammation and dental pain as well as helps to retain the natural white color of the teeth. It is another technique to regain a sparkling white smile popular in the east. Take a tablespoon of turmeric powder and mix it well with water in a bowl. Once turned into a paste, dab little amounts on to a soft toothbrush and applied thoroughly on the surface of the teeth for 2-5 min. Once done, rinse and brush your teeth with regular toothpaste. This method will not give you instant results, but it helps in getting rid of any yellow stains on the outermost layer of the teeth. According to a study, turmeric helps in relieving any gingival inflammation and reduce any dental pain.
Brush with Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is absorbent in nature and thus helps in absorbing any toxins that cause the teeth to stain and achieve sparkling white color of the teeth. Dab a soft toothbrush into small amounts of activated charcoal powder and brush thoroughly on the teeth. Rinse and brush your teeth with regular toothpaste after applying activated charcoal powder. Many people are skeptical about using charcoal on their teeth as it usually stains if spattered, but it does the opposite when used on teeth. It strongly absorbs plaque and any toxins responsible for staining the enamel. However, it is better not to use this method regularly as consuming charcoal can cause dehydration in some people.
You can try the above-mentioned ways to whiten your teeth at home. Remember to pair up the process with a toothpaste that has the above-mentioned natural ingredients in it to achieve better results and practice it regularly to get rid of any yellow stains and achieve good oral hygiene.