There have been many information about natural teeth whitening remedies to help you get a mouth full of white, healthy looking teeth from the comfort of your own home. Many of such traditional whitening methods work very well, although they will require repeated application to achieve the maximum effect. It is also important to know how to use each of them, though, so that you do not risk harming your teeth. In some cases, you can damage the enamel and even cause cavities if you use materials that are abrasive or acidic without proper care.
Here are some of the most popular natural teeth whitening remedies that you might like to try:
Brushing With Baking Soda
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is well known as a cleaning agent and deodorizer. You probably know that you can buy toothpaste containing baking soda, but you can also mix half a teaspoonful with regular toothpaste for the same natural teeth whitening effect. Alternatively, you can also mix baking soda with a bit of water and apply it directly to your toothbrush. Although brushing with baking soda will not bleach your teeth white, it does effectively gets rid of stains to help make your teeth shine. Baking soda is safe to swallow, but it is important not to use it every day since sodium bicarbonate is quite abrasive and can damage the enamel.
Lemon Juice
Another natural remedy that can help you whiten your teeth is lemon juice. It's natural bleaching properties will brighten your teeth if you brush your teeth with it or by rubbing the peel across the teeth. Unfortunately, lemon juice is quite acidic and the citric acid in the lemon can potentially weaken the enamel, making it softer by depleting the vital calcium in both the enamel and the underlying tooth. Many dental experts recommend not using lemon juice at all for whitening your teeth because of the dangers of tooth decay.
Strawberries
This is a little known natural teeth whitening home remedy that actually works. It seems counterintuitive, because strawberries are red and can stain clothes. However this remedy has surprising effects that you have to try out to believe.
To use strawberries, rub the fruit over your teeth and then brush your teeth immediately afterward. You can also mash the fruit into a toothpaste like substance and brush it over your teeth. Just like lemon juice, strawberries contain an acid that brightens the teeth. With the sugar and malic acid contained inside the fruit, you need to be sure to brush your teeth immediately after this treatment otherwise the acid could damage the enamel on your teeth.
Wood Ash
Before toothpaste was available to buy, people used to clean their teeth with ashes from the fireplace. Wood ash, specifically from hard wood, contains potassium hydroxide (lye), which has a powerful bleaching action that gives you whiter teeth. You should be aware that potassium hydroxide is a harsh chemical that can damage the teeth with frequent use, however.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is also another natural product which is famous as a teeth whitening solution, and whenever one finds teeth whitening tips, he or she will notice apple cider vinegar mentioned. Apple cider vinegar can always be mixed with a little bit of soda, which will be enough to form a paste, and this paste can be used to brush the teeth. A more liquid mixture can also be made out of the two and used to gargle before brushing your teeth with regular toothpaste, as this helps keep stains from the enamel at bay.
Other tried and tested natural ways to get a brighter smile include rubbing with the pith of an orange or a sage leaf, brushing with ground almond peel and salt, and chewing on the twigs of the neem plant, as followers of Ayurvedic medicine in India do when they want whiter teeth.
Important Note: There are also some regular habits which one needs to maintain in order to make sure that the teeth remain white naturally. Brushing and flossing regularly is a must, and it is a very good habit to brush off the teeth after each vital meal. Rinsing off the mouth thoroughly is needed after the consumption of potatoes and apples, as well as after drinking coffee or wine. Avoiding colas, wine, coffee and smoking is always good for your dental health and there is one more item which one ought to avoid – fluoride. Many mouth rinses and mouth washes make use of fluoride, but high exposure to fluorine and especially at an early age causes teeth to discolor and stain. Avoidance of tetracycline antibiotics during pregnancy and during the early childhood years is necessary in order to protect teeth from discoloring.