How To Have A Naturally Brighter Smile

Several factors cause teeth to lose their bright sparkling whiteness.  Certain foods, such as red wine and other factors like smoking can stain the enamel whilst plaque has a tendency to build up on teeth causing them to look yellow.  

Here are some top tips on how you can naturally whiten your teeth, yet it you have issues that require cosmetic dentistry such as implants this is something you need to see a specialist dentist such as whitlowdental.com in order to sort this out before focusing on making your teeth more white.

OIL PULLING

Oil pulling with coconut oil is a relatively new trend in the western world, yet oil pulling has been a traditional Indian remedy known for improving oral hygiene and removing toxins for many centuries.  

Essentially, you swish oil around your mouth, pulling it through your teeth with a suction like motion coming from your tongue.  This practice is known to remove bacteria, which can turn into plaque - which is what causes your teeth to look yellow.

In reality, any oil will work for oil pulling, though coconut oil has a pleasant taste and is packed with nutrients that offer several health benefits.  Coconut oil is also proven to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria.

To achieve best results you’ll want to swish the oil around your mouth for 15-20 minutes then spit it out (in the bin rather than the sink, as it will block the sink pretty quickly - bearing in mind coconut oil turns hard, like wax, once cool).

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Apple cider vinegar is a natural disinfectant and popular natural cleaning product around the home.  The main active ingredient is acetic acid which is what kills the bacteria.

These antibacterials properties are what make apple cider vinegar so useful in us keep healthy mouths and whitening our teeth.

It’s important to note the acetic acid in vinegar could erode enamel, which is why you should not use apple cider vinegar every day.  It is best to use it as a supplemental mouthwash - diluted with water - a few times a week. It’s important to rinse your mouth with water afterwards in order to remove any residue of acetic acid.

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Now, this one might sound a little scary, yet people have been using hydrogen peroxide to disinfect wounds for many centuries.  It’s also a natural bleaching agent that will kill bacteria in your mouth.  

There was one study that found using a toothpaste containing hydrogen peroxide twice per day resulted in 62% whiter teeth in just six weeks.

This natural remedy is best used as a mouthwash before you brush your teeth, with a 1.5% - 3% solution, that is mixed with a little water.

BRUSH WITH BAKING SODA

You may already known that baking soda is a natural whitener used in many commercial toothpastes.  It’s a mild abrasive and creates an alkaline environment in your mouth; both of which are good for cleaning and disinfecting your mouth.

Simply make a paste with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2 teaspoons of water, then brush your teeth as normal each day - you can use baking soda several times a week, even daily, without there being negative side effects.