Dental care costs continue to rise, with as much as billions of dollars spent annually. Such figures account for teeth whitening, both professionally and at home, among other costs like implants. As such, many people try to find ways of cutting down on their dental costs without compromising their dental health. Trying to figure out which household products to use to have pearly, white teeth can be difficult. This is because most teeth whitening products are bleaching chemicals that can cause health concerns. Of course, you can always visit a professional dental facility that handles such issues. A good example is a dental facility that handles both cleaning and whitening. For such facilities, the overriding message is usually along the lines of “you can rely on us for your natural teeth here.”
Causes of Yellow and Discolored Teeth
Numerous factors can contribute to your teeth losing their white and attractive shine. A tooth has several layers. The enamel is the outermost part. Its hard and rigid surface protects internal structures like the dentine and pulp cavity. Beverages like Coca-Cola and red wine are some of the many examples of drinks that can cause your teeth to begin yellowing. Regular dental hygiene practices can usually take care of such discoloration. However, sometimes it’s because the enamel has been eroded. This reveals the underneath dentine, which is yellow in color.
Simple Home Remedies for Teeth Whitening
1)Brushing Your Teeth With Baking Powder
There’s a reason most brands of toothpaste have some baking powder in them. This is because baking powder is mildly abrasive, helping to get rid of stains building up on your teeth. Chemically, baking powder is an alkaline substance, helping to create an alkaline environment in your mouth. This is preferable to acidic conditions which favor bacterial growth. The reason behind using baking powder for teeth whitening is that its presence in toothpaste seems to do a good job of keeping teeth clean and gleaming.
To do this, get two teaspoons of water in a glass and add 1 teaspoon of baking powder. Use it to brush your teeth. It doesn’t have to be every day. A few times a week will do the trick. Of course, moderation is always key. Using too much baking powder to have “whiter” teeth can be unhealthy.
2) Using Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide has effective germicidal properties. As such, it’s a regular constituent substance in home cleaning products and even toothpaste. However, its concentration in cleaning products is usually high. You only need dilute amounts for teeth whitening. Look for teeth whitening products at your local pharmacy. Ensure that their hydrogen peroxide concentrations are less than 3%.
Instead of using hydrogen peroxide on its own, you can mix two teaspoons of it with one teaspoon of baking powder. This mixture can produce good results as far as teeth whitening goes. This should be done only a few times a week as hydrogen peroxide can be corrosive to the enamel, leading to the weakening of teeth.
3) Eating Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables
This is as natural a remedy as they come. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is always good for your health. However, their less known benefit is to the teeth. These foods help to get rid of plaque from your teeth. Regularly eating them ensures that dirt and food particles don’t accumulate and stain your teeth. Additionally, some fruits and vegetables have natural substances that help to whiten teeth. For example, malic acid, a substance that abounds in strawberries and other fruits, is said to help avoid stain adherence to your teeth. Pineapples are also considered good for teeth whitening if consumed regularly. They contain bromelain, a substance that’s been used in toothpaste, with effective teeth whitening results.
4) Practice Oil Pulling
This is a traditional Indian remedy involving using oil to rinse your mouth. You swish it around in your mouth and it gets rid of the bacteria and food particles that can all result in plaques. Usually, coconut oil is preferred because of its pleasant taste and numerous health benefits. Also, coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, a substance that greatly contributes to reducing inflammation and killing harmful bacteria.
Sesame oil can also work. It has been shown to be effective against Streptococcus mutans, a strain of bacteria notorious for facilitating plaque buildup.
Use one tablespoon of coconut oil to rinse your mouth thoroughly. Of course, you’ll have to wait for a few minutes for it to melt. This is because coconut oil is usually solidified at room temperature.
All in all, these home remedies can be very useful for getting rid of plaque if consistently utilized.