No one would choose yellow teeth over pearly whites. White teeth boost self-confidence which can lead to productivity and better social relationships. Your teeth are one of the first things people notice so it may leave a bad impression if your teeth are stained too yellow. Many people also practice smiling without showing their teeth in an effort to conceal discoloured teeth. Currently, there are many teeth whitening treatments available. These treatments expose your teeth to harsh chemicals which may leave your teeth feeling sensitive through time. Teeth whitening treatments can be very expensive as well, even just those over-the-counter teeth whitening products. You may not notice how much you’ve already spent and still, you spend more to achieve a longer-lasting lighter shade of teeth.
If you’re done wasting money and time, know that there are natural ingredients that can remove the stains and lighten your teeth. Natural alternatives won’t make your teeth sensitive but it requires patience, though. If you compare harsh teeth whitening treatments to natural teeth whiteners, you’ll find that the latter offers just as much benefits with much less cons. Here are some natural teeth whiteners you can try out.
1. Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is a very widely-known highly absorbent porous substance that gets rid of many impurities. In fact, you’ll find that there are a lot of beauty products available that feature activated charcoal as one of its main ingredients.
Activated charcoal will bind to and remove the impurities in your teeth that cause yellowness or discolouration while keeping the mouth healthy by regulating its pH thereby killing any bad bacteria that may lead to cavities, tooth decay, and gingivitis. Simply dip your toothbrush into some powdered activated charcoal and brush as usual.
2. Seeds and Nuts
Seeds and nuts are rich in protein and healthy fats that are good for your body. These lightly abrasive, hard foods can also rub plaque and stains off of your teeth when you chew on them. So why not consider replacing your regular mid-afternoon snack with a couple of seeds and nuts?
3. Coconut Oil
As it turns out, coconut oil is not only good for your skin, it’s good for your teeth and gums as well. Due to its antimicrobial properties, coconut oil effectively kills damage-causing bacteria in your mouth which may lead to several oral problems such as cavities and tooth decay. Not only that, but coconut oil has been showing promising results as an effective natural teeth whitener.
Some people follow the oil pulling technique using coconut oil to improve not only their oral health, but their overall health as well. Swishing coconut oil around in your mouth for 20 minutes after you brush your teeth is believed to have detoxifying effects as the oil draws out the toxins in your body while effectively whitening your teeth and removing plaque and bacteria from your mouth. Alternatively, after brushing, you can put a few drops of coconut oil in your toothbrush and brush as usual or put a few drops in a clean wash cloth and rub it on your teeth.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
Using apple cider vinegar as a teeth whitener takes patience and commitment but after a month of regular use, you’ll find that your teeth will look professionally cleaned. Apple cider vinegar is especially effective for removing teeth stains caused by coffee and nicotine.
After brushing, put an amount of apple cider vinegar on a clean wash cloth and rub it on your teeth. Be careful, though. Apple cider vinegar is still acidic so it may remove the enamel on your teeth. As a precaution, brush again with your regular toothpaste, preferably a non-fluoride one, after the apple cider vinegar treatment or rinse your mouth really well.
5. Strawberries
Aside from being delicious and healthy, strawberry is believed to effectively whiten teeth. Malic acid, one of the chief components of strawberries, acts as a natural astringent that can remove teeth discoloration. Some people even say that you’ll see the effects immediately. Simply mash up a couple of strawberries and rub it all over your teeth. Rinse well afterwards.
