Brighter, whiter teeth can quickly boost your confidence. You’re far more likely to relax and smile than others, and you will feel that you look your best. Unfortunately, food and drinks like berries, coffee and red wine can keep you from maintaining your pearly whites. You may have to take extra measures to restore your glowing smile. You have two options: get treatment or whiten your teeth naturally.
How to Whiten Your Teeth Naturally
The safest way to reclaim your gorgeous smile is under the supervision of a dentist or dental technician. In-chair teeth whitening treatment is a great option. That way, you don’t risk using over-the-counter whitening kits that may do more harm than good. If treatment isn’t possible at the moment, or you want to try other options, you can go for natural remedies for teeth whitening. Here are some ways to do it safely:
Try oil pulling
Oil pulling is an Ayurvedic tradition that involves rinsing your mouth with oil to remove dirt and bacteria. It isn’t a substitute for brushing or flossing; the ideal time to do it is before brushing or flossing your teeth. Swish the oil between 15 to 20 minutes (but you can start at three or five minutes and then work your way up). Spit the oil out and rinse your mouth with warm water. Then, go and brush and floss your teeth.
You can use sunflower oil or sesame oil. But the popular choice is coconut oil due to its pleasant taste and other health benefits. Keep in mind that further studies are still needed to support that oil pulling can whiten teeth and prevent cavities. But it’s a generally safe practice, so it’s worth a try. Plus, many people, including celebrities like Miranda Kerr, claimed that their teeth are brighter because of daily oil pulling.
Munch on papaya, pineapple and apple
Do you like eating fruits? It’s time to pick your favourites for the sake of your teeth. A study found preliminary evidence that enzymes from papayas and pineapples offer modest teeth-whitening effects. These enzymes are called papain and bromelain. However, the authors of the study said that their findings might require further research. Still, it doesn’t hurt to munch on papaya and pineapple whenever you can.
Apple is another fruit you may want to eat often. Chewing an apple can help exfoliate your choppers and rid of any debris left on your teeth from eating your lunch or dinner. Plus, all that munching can boost your saliva production, which is your mouth’s natural cleaning agent.
Brush your teeth with baking soda
Baking cakes, removing laundry stains, keeping your fridge smelling good and whitening your teeth—what can’t the glorious baking soda do? Baking soda can gently polish stains away from your teeth, thanks to its alkaline level. You can make a paste by mixing baking soda with water. Then, brush your teeth using your DIY paste.
Some people worry that baking soda may be too harsh for their tooth enamel. However, research has shown that using baking soda is a safe way to remove dental stains. If you’re not comfortable making baking soda paste, try switching to toothpaste with sodium bicarbonate. Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate anyway.
Make necessary dietary changes
One of the easiest ways to keep your pearly whites is not letting them get stains in the first place. You can achieve that by steering clear of beverages with staining effects on teeth. These include coffee, black tea, red wine and dark soda. Acidic foods can also make your teeth look yellow by wearing down the enamel over time.
If you’ve been smoking or consuming tobacco products like snus, your teeth likely have nicotine stains. Consider quitting not only to maintain your bright smile but also to prevent tooth decay, gum disease and a host of other serious health issues.
Maintain excellent dental hygiene
Practising good dental care is the most important thing you can do to prevent yellow stains on your teeth. When brushing, be sure to clean around the gums and the backs of your choppers. Also, don’t forget to floss regularly, as it can help remove plaque between the teeth. We can’t stress this enough—excellent oral hygiene can prevent tooth decay, protect the tooth enamel and remove stains.
Get a Glowing Smile in Five Easy Steps
Again, the safest and most effective way to whiten your teeth is to get professional treatment. If you aren’t satisfied with your smile after trying all the options above, turn to SmileBar.
At SmileBar, you can have a whiter shade of teeth in five simple steps:
- Come to any of our locations, and we’ll assess your initial shade.
- Sit comfortably in our designer chair as our dental technicians prep the treatment.
- Wait as we apply the non-peroxide whitening gel to your teeth.
- Relax under the state-of-the-art LED light technology that activates the gel.
- Expect to finish in less than an hour. You’ll leave our clinic feeling happy and relaxed—and with a much brighter, whiter smile than before.
Book an appointment online and save 50% on your teeth whitening treatment.
