Have you ever had your teeth whitened? Everyone desires to have a mouth full of pearly white teeth.
But gaining that perfect smile is easier said than done. Lots of daily habits contribute to tooth yellowing. These include certain foods, alcohol, and cigarettes.
But keeping up with whitening regimens will help retain a white smile.
Whether you’re whitening your teeth for a special occasion or are trying to get in the daily whitening habit, these teeth whitening techniques will give you a nice set of pearly whites.
If you’re looking for the best way to whiten teeth, here are 10 tips.
1. Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is one of the oldest hygiene hacks in the world. This technique dates back to Ayurvedic medicine (or ancient medicine from India) which removes toxins from the body, improving overall oral hygiene.
Similar to mouthwash, you simple swish oil around your teeth. This removes excess plaque.
Any oil works, but they use sunflower and sesame oil in India. Today, many people use coconut oil which offers the same benefits.
When you oil pull daily, your oral health improves. The excess plaque also causes tooth discoloration, so you whiten teeth naturally.
2. Brush Your Teeth With Baking Soda
When you purchase whitening toothpaste, you often notice baking soda is one of the top ingredients. That’s because baking soda has natural whitening properties.
Compared to whitening toothpaste, baking soda is a lot cheaper. You can get the same benefits when you whiten teeth with baking soda.
Combine one teaspoon of baking soda and two teaspoons of water. This forms a paste. Put this paste on your toothbrush and brush your teeth. Do this a few times a week to truly see results.
3. Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Did you ever bleach your hair with hydrogen peroxide? The same can be done with your teeth. Hydrogen peroxide acts like bleach and kills bacteria.
However, you should only use a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. It’s a powerful ingredient and also tastes bad. The safest way to use hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth is as a mouthwash.
Commercial hydrogen peroxide contains high amounts of peroxide — about 3%.
Dilute it with water in equal parts. Swish it around your mouth. Follow with your normal brushing routine.
Only use a hydrogen peroxide mouthwash a few times a week. If you do more or daily, it can degrade your tooth enamel.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has many health uses, but few people know it can whiten your teeth. The main ingredient in apple cider vinegar is acetic acid, which kills bacteria. This bacteria, or plaque, causes tooth discoloration.
With apple cider vinegar, you whiten teeth and fight various oral diseases. This also gives your teeth a whitening effect.
Just be very careful when using apple cider vinegar. It’s a powerful ingredient and can soften your teeth over time. The best way to use apple cider vinegar is as a mouthwash. Dilute it in equal parts with water and swish around your mouth.
Apple cider vinegar has a strong flavor, so swish around with water after you spit out the mixture. There are lots of imitation products out there, so make sure the apple cider vinegar you use has “the mother” in it.
5. Fruits and Vegetables
Surprisingly, eating healthy whitens teeth. This shouldn’t replace brushing, but fruits and vegetables can scrub off plaque. If you’re looking for specific fruits, strawberries and pineapple are the two fruits with the strongest whitening power.
Strawberries contain malic acid, which helps remove tooth discoloration. To really get white teeth, smash up a strawberry and combine the strawberry juices with baking soda. Scrub the mixture on your teeth and rinse with water.
Pineapple works similarly. Pineapple contains bromelain, which also helps whiten teeth.
6. Develop Healthy Habits
If unhealthy habits are causing tooth discoloration, simply eliminate them.
Certain foods, such as dark berries, stain your teeth. Everyday beverages such as coffee and soda cause discoloration. If you’re a wine-o, drinking red wine also causes yellowing.
You can quit smoking or stop using chewing tobacco, which is a leading cause of tooth discoloration.
Your dentist always told you to stay away from sugar. That’s because sugar supports bacteria growth, which contributes to yellow teeth.
7. Brush and Floss Every Day
The simplest way to prevent yellow teeth is to brush and floss every day. You should brush your teeth twice a day — once in the morning and once at night.
You should also floss every day, it doesn’t matter if you floss during the day or evening.
Is your toothpaste not cutting it? You can get prescription toothpaste from a dentist’s office, such as Ideal Dentistry.
8. Orange Peel Whitening Strips
You have seen all of the ads for whitening strips. But did you know orange strips work just as well? Oranges are packed with vitamin C. However, you need to leave them on for a long time and use them every night to reap the benefits.
9. Lemon and Salt
Another natural trick that works is lemon and salt. Lemon is also high in vitamin C and salt improves your mouth’s pH balance so bacteria can’t grow.
Combine lemon juice with a pinch of salt and rub it on your teeth. Leave it on for a few minutes and rinse.
10. Banana Peels
Bananas are rich in potassium, magnesium, manganese, and several minerals. Your teeth are made of calcium, and a mineral-rich diet supports calcium. Take the inside of a banana peel and rub it on your teeth for two minutes.
Now You Know the Best Way to Whiten Teeth
While many people decide to invest in expensive products or professional whitening, there are easy ways to whiten your teeth at home. Often, this is the best way to whiten teeth.
These products are safe and natural and provide the essential nutrients your teeth need.
Try and keep up with your whitening habits every week for a pearly white smile.
For more life hacks, explore our blog.