We all want to show snow white teeth every time we smile or laugh out loud. If you have discolored teeth, you have probably sought out solutions for better, whiter teeth. In your quest to whiten your teeth, you are likely to settle for over the counter teeth whitening agents. While these work, they are made from harsh bleaches that come with a range of side effects. Some of them include bluish enamel, irritation of the gum and even uneven whitening. Fortunately, there are easy do-it-yourself methods that you can use at home to whiten your teeth. Not only are these methods safer, but they are also easier on your pocket.
How to Whiten Teeth
Apply Lemon Juice and Baking Soda Paste
Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda is a strong agent for teeth whitening. You can mix baking soda with water or better still, lemon juice. Baking soda is not too abrasive on the teeth. It will gently wash away stain on the surface to reveal the natural white colors of the teeth. It is also an alkaline solvent, which makes it ideal for balancing the pH in your mouth if you eat acidic foods often. This helps protect the enamel, which can easily be destroyed by acidic foods. When mixed with lemon juice, baking soda will reduce the acidity of lemon but still leave enough to work as a bleaching agent.
To create this whitening agent, take a few spoons of baking soda, a good amount of lemon juice, and a toothbrush. Mix the lemon juice and baking soda to create a paste. Use a clean cloth to get rid of saliva in your mouth. Apply a good amount of the paste in your mouth and let it sit for one minute. If you used water for your mixture, you can leave it for up to 3 minutes. Rinse with cold water. Do this twice every day.
Rinse with Coconut Oil
How to whiten teeth? Try coconut oil! This may sound like a bad joke, but it is a trick that has been used successfully over the years. Also known as oil pulling, this method requires coconut oil which is comprised of lauric acid. Lauric acid is ideal for ridding your teeth of yellow-causing bacteria. It also promotes the health of the gums and helps freshen your breath. All you need is a tablespoon of the coconut oil. Before brushing your teeth in the morning, put a little coconut oil in your mouth. Swish the oil around your mouth ensuring it moves through teeth gaps. Do this for up to 15 minutes and spit. Rinse your mouth and brush as usual.
Enjoy Teeth Whitening Diet
If you are a coffee lover, wine taker or a smoker, you will eventually develop discolored teeth. Gravies, colas as well as dark juices can also stain your pearly whites. A simple rule of thumb is – if it is dark, it will stain your teeth. It is advisable to brush your teeth immediately after you consume foods or drinks that will stain them. If you cannot access your toothbrush immediately, eat an apple as it is an effective cleaning agent.
Change Your Toothbrushes
It is advisable to change your toothbrushes as often as once every 3 months. If you use it for longer, you run the risk of transferring bacteria to your mouth. It is recommended that you bend your brush to a 45 degrees angle when placing it on your gum and gently move it in circles on the surface of the teeth as opposed to a back and forth movement. Have a good grip on the stem of the brush to ensure you scrub a bit hard.
Clean Your Tongue
As you learn how to whiten teeth, a clean tongue is also important. The tongue carries a lot of plaque every day. If not well cleaned, it can lead to a buildup which shows as a white coating on the tongue. This leads to a foul smell in the mouth. This buildup can also transfer to the teeth and cause discoloring. It is advisable to use a tongue scraper to get rid of buildup on the tongue, which could be more effective than a toothbrush in this case.
Keep It Fresh
You can tell how fresh your breath is by blowing breath in your palm and breathing it in. if you get an unpleasant smell, you need to consider using breath enhancers such as breath mints. Opt for alcohol free mouthwashes. Alcohol rich mouthwash leads to drying of the mouth tissues, which leaves them prone to bacterial infections.
Firm or crispy foods when eaten help in cleaning the teeth and this can also help in keeping your breath fresh. Apart from apples, other options include celery, popcorns and carrots. For effectiveness, make these natural brushing foods the last thing you consume. This enables you to use them to wash off the stains from other meals.
Floss regularly
It is advisable to practice flossing without necessarily being in front of your mirror. If you can do this, you can floss wherever you are. Keep several packs of floss in your office desk, purse or car. This ensures you can always floss when need to.
Brush Your Teeth Faithfully
The most important times to brush your teeth is in the morning and before bed time. While most people do it in the morning, very few do it at night. When you brush your teeth before bed time, you rid the mouth of accumulated bacteria thus preventing it from sticking on your teeth overnight. Brushing in the morning helps to rid the mouth of bacteria that accumulated at night. This gives you whiter teeth and a fresher breath.
Use Apple Cider Vinegar
This is yet another effective remedy if you are looking at tips on how to whiten teeth. Apple cider vinegar is natural and organic making it ideal for whiter teeth. Mix one part vinegar to two parts water and swish the solution in your mouth for a minute. Spit and rinse.
Pick Gel Trays Over Strips
While there are divided opinions on the effectiveness of teeth whitening strips, they are great teeth whitening agents. Experts argue that these strips do not whiten the teeth evenly. This is because the darkest parts of the teeth are close to the gum line and the strips do not reach these parts. This is why gel trays are recommended. Use any of these home remedies to whiten your teeth. With time, you will possess the most beautiful smile.
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