Can Nature Whiten Your Teeth?
Do you have yellow or discolored teeth? The sad truth is some people no matter how many times they brush their teeth have stained teeth from drinking coffee, tea, and or smoking.
First impressions matter in this world and having teeth that look like you don’t brush can and will send a signal that you don’t really care about yourself. Who doesn’t want to have a beautiful smile with white sparkling teeth?
STRAWBERRIES
How can these delicious darlings of the summer season – capable of staining countless white tablecloths and shirts – actually bestow us with whiter smiles? It’s all thanks to the power of their naturally astringent malic acid. Kick up the white factor by whipping up this once-a-week treatment:
• Thoroughly crush one berry with a fork and add one teaspoon of baking soda until you create a red paste.
• Using a soft bristled toothbrush, apply the mixture to your soon-to-be-pearly whites, allowing the blend to sit for 5 minutes before rinsing off.
• In order to prevent tooth decay, it’s really important that you then follow your strawberry whitening treatment with a standard toothbrushing in order to remove any natural sugars that might be left behind.
CELERY & APPLES
The fibrous cellulose in these ever-popular, diet-worthy snacks acts as a gentle, natural abrasive and – much like your toothbrush – can scrub those tell-tale signs of your healthy yet pigment-staining diet away. There’s no fancy prep involved with this whitening remedy… just slice, crunch and smile your way to a brighter tomorrow.
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
Don’t just reserve it exclusively for tough laundry/pet stains and as a pesticide-torching produce rinse. That very same bubbling power can be used to safely lift the grunge off of your choppers while concurrently improving your overall dental health. Here’s how to enjoy the greatest benefit: Rinse your mouth with 3% hydrogen peroxide diluted with tap water in a 50-50 ratio every evening before bedtime and you’ll notice a brighter, whiter smile in just a few weeks.
BAKING SODA
Also known as sodium bicarbonate, the fine white powder in everyone’s cupboard does a lot more than leaven baked goods and clear unpleasant odors out of the refrigerator. The salt-based multi-purposed wonder, when transformed into a simple paste (with the addition of tap water), gently lifts stains that have permeated tooth enamel when used regularly. Yes, it’s got a distinctive salty taste… but when you think about it, it’s so much better than saturating your teeth with conventional, chemical-based toothpastes. If, however, you just can’t stand it ‘straight up,’ this homemade baking soda-based toothpaste recipe might just strike your fancy:
• 6 teaspoons of baking soda
• 1/3 teaspoon of salt
• 4 teaspoons of glycerin
• 15 drops of peppermint or other breath-freshening oil
Mix all four ingredients in a small, resealable container and dip your brush inside anytime you want a brightening boost.
OLIVE OIL
Can it be true? Olive oil to clean your teeth? Just when you thought you heard it all, along comes olive oil to the rescue as a teeth whitener. Some people are attesting to their teeth becoming whiter by applying olive oil to their teeth after they brush.
There are two ways you can apply it. Add a few drops to your tooth brush and simple brush it on, or add the olive oil to a corner of a clean wash cloth and rub it on. It can’t hurt to try this natural whitening tip. Olive oil is good for you!
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (ACV)
It makes sense that apple cider vinegar would eventually remove stubborn stains on the teeth, especially from coffee and nicotine. It has been proven that it does work but you have to be consistent and it takes a least a month of continuous usage to see results.
Some say that using ACV looks like you just got your teeth professionally cleansed. Be careful, as with all acids, it can remove the enamel on your teeth as well. After brushing with ACV, you will need to brush again with regular toothpaste, preferably a non fluoride paste, or rinse your mouth out really well.
