Feeling like your teeth are not as white as they could be can take a large toll on your self-confidence and your outlook. Being afraid to smile isn’t a healthy way to go through life, but professional dental whitening treatments can be prohibitively expensive. Luckily, there are some ways to try teeth whitening at home.
What causes yellow teeth?
First, it’s important to understand why teeth start looking yellow. Certain types of food and drink can stain your tooth enamel, which is what coats the outermost layer of your teeth. This form of surface discoloration can be easily treatable with regular brushing and dental cleaning, as well as some at-home whitening remedies.
Sometimes, however, teeth can look yellow because the enamel on them has worn off and eroded to reveal the yellow dentin below the enamel, a bony tissue that lines your teeth.
Oil pulling
One natural teeth whitening method developed as an Indian folk remedy designed to remove toxins from the body while improving oral hygiene. It involves swishing oil around in your mouth to remove any bacteria resting on your teeth. Excess bacteria in the mouth can turn into plaque and can cause your teeth to look yellow.
Any oil will work for oil pulling, but traditional oil pulling practices used sunflower or sesame oil for pulling, and many people today will use coconut oil because of its pleasant taste and its high levels of lauric acid, which can kill bacteria and reduce inflammation.
Oil pulling is safe to do daily because it does not expose the teeth to any acids or other erosion-causing ingredients.
Baking soda brushing
Baking soda has natural whitening properties, making it a popular ingredient in commercial toothpaste. Its mildly abrasive nature means it can help to scrub away surface stains on the teeth. Brushing with baking soda can create an alkaline environment in your mouth, which can prevent bacteria from growing there.
This is a remedy that will take time, but it can be worth it for your oral health. To brush your teeth with baking soda, mix a teaspoon of baking soda with two teaspoons of water to make a paste, and then brush your teeth with the paste. This can be done a few times a week, but maybe not every day, due to the somewhat abrasive nature of baking soda.
Apple cider vinegar
For centuries, people have used apple cider vinegar as a natural disinfectant and cleaning product. The acetic acid in the vinegar kills bacteria, which makes this antibacterial liquid a great choice for helping to clean your mouth and whiten teeth.
You can use diluted apple cider vinegar as a mouthwash and rinse your mouth with water afterward. However, do not use this treatment every day due to the possibility of acetic acid eroding your teeth.
Fruits and vegetables
Eating your fruits and veggies can mean eating your way to a cleaner mouth! The malic acid found in strawberries can remove discoloration on your teeth. Pineapple, which contains the enzyme bromelain, can be effective at reducing tooth staining as well. Consuming raw fruits and vegetables can help rub off plaque and can help to keep your teeth looking as bright as possible.
Dental treatments
If you have tried all these natural remedies and they do not seem to be working the way you would like, find a trusted and experienced dentist and consult with them about the best whitening solution for you.
Your dentist may recommend an in-office whitening treatment such as Zoom! Whitening, which can brighten your teeth up to six shades in as little as an hour, or they may discuss the possibility of using customizable at-home whitening trays that can also be very effective.
If you are going to use chemical bleaching agents, it’s important to talk to your dentist about them and try to avoid drugstore whitening strips that can irritate your gums and potentially damage your teeth. Dental whitening trays are your best bet for at-home chemical whitening products.
