The shade of your teeth can have a huge impact on how comfortable you feel when smiling. And while there are plenty of teeth whitening products on the market, they either taste horrible, burn your gums, or don’t work as well as advertised. There are also in-office teeth whitening treatments but these tend to be highly expensive.
To purchase the best product, you want to start with identifying what causes your teeth to become discolored.
What Causes Discoloration?
No matter if you brush your teeth religiously, discoloration happens. Medications, certain beverages, and even food can cause your teeth to become discolored.
Common causes of not-so-white teeth include:
- Smoking
- Drinking coffee or tea
- Medications such as antibiotics
- A Poor diet
- Dry mouth
- Genetic factors
One of the best ways to prevent more discoloration is to brush after every meal. There are also certain lifestyle changes you can make, such as quitting smoking or eating a more wholesome diet, which can improve your dental health. But, once your teeth have become discolored, you’ll want to focus on whitening and prevention.
Get Your Smile Back Naturally
There’s nothing more embarrassing than having to hide your smile in pictures or covering your mouth when you laugh. In the age of social media and having to document every hour of every day, you want to feel good when you’re around the lens.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to naturally whiten your teeth. This means no irritating teeth whitening strips or treatments that cost hundreds of dollars! Here are 4 natural teeth whitening options to try.
- Hydrogen Peroxide & Baking Soda
While this combination definitely doesn’t taste the best, it’s extremely effective in whitening teeth. Hydrogen peroxide has antibacterial properties which clean your mouth and gums, and baking soda is well known for its whitening abilities. When combined, the reaction releases free radicals that break down stain-causing molecules.
When using hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, you want to create a paste-like consistency with a 2:1 hydrogen peroxide to baking soda ratio. Your paste shouldn’t be gritty. Apply the paste to your teeth for a minute and then rinse it off. Repeat a few times throughout the week and you’ll start to notice a whiter smile.
- Charcoal
One of the newest fads to hit the natural dental care market is charcoal. While the idea of putting a black product on your teeth to make them whiter seems counterproductive, activated charcoal has shown to be effective in brightening and whitening smiles. There are all sorts of activated charcoal tooth powders that you brush with and leave on your teeth for a few minutes.
Charcoal doesn’t have a bad aftertaste but beware that this stuff will stain! Don’t use this while wearing white or light colored clothing. You’ll also want to avoid letting it sit on your bathroom countertop, unless you’re looking to add a pop of grey to your room.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Bear with me here! I know the idea of putting straight vinegar in your mouth is no good unless you’ve got a huge salad to go along with it. If there’s any miracle liquid on the planet (aside from water of course), it’s definitely apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar makes a great dressing, a trusted all-natural cleaner, and is also useful for removing stains from the teeth.
For a whitening powerhouse, mix apple cider vinegar and baking soda to create a paste. If you want to avoid mixing and applying something to your teeth, try gargling apple cider vinegar for a similar effect.
- Coconut Oil & Peppermint
This is probably the tastiest all-natural option available. Coconut oil is praised for its variety of benefits, including its ability to decrease stains. When mixed with a small amount of peppermint leaf or peppermint essential oil, you can remove the surface bacteria that discolor teeth.
So why does it work? Coconut oil is full of lauric acid which breaks down bacteria. While you won’t see results overnight, if you stick with a daily routine, your teeth will slowly but surely start to change for the better. Simply warm the oil, and swish it around in your mouth for 10 minutes. Make sure to spit the oil in the trash, as it will harden in your pipes if you spit it in the sink.
Whiten Then Prevent
Having whiter teeth boosts your confidence and your dental health. Once you’ve found a natural teeth whitening option that works for you, the next step is to prevent future discoloration. Quit any bad habits, improve your diet, and brush after every meal to maintain your white teeth.
Have you tried any of these natural teeth whitening methods? Let us know below!