A flashy, white toothed smile is more then just an aesthetic most of us look for! It's also a sign that your oral health is on point! Short of a visit to the dentist, which let's be real, no one really wants to have to go through, let's explore some natural ways to help keep your teeth as white as you can naturally, in the comfort of your own home!
1. Avoid coffee, tea and sugary soft drinks!
I know this seems like the most simple of tips, but it's probably the most impactful! It's a well known fact that coffee and tea are prone to causing staining on the enamel of our teeth and sugar helps speed up the decaying process drastically. You know it's not beneficial to your teeth, so avoid overindulging in that caffeine fix!
2. Brush your teeth with baking soda!
This little tip was passed down to me by my grandmother. Baking soda is a gentle and effective way to help get rid of the surface stains on our teeth, which helps your teeth appear whiter!
3. Try out oil pulling once a day!
Oil pulling has gained popularity lately, but it is actually an ancient Ayurvedic method of cleaning and whitening teeth. Essentially you put 1 tablespoon of oil in your mouth and and push and pull the oil through your teeth for 20 minutes a day. Coconut oil is highly recommended due to its antibacterial properties. It takes some getting used to, and if you prefer, there are plenty of oil pulling kits out there with added benefits such as essential oils, that may make the experience a little more tolerable!
4. Eat loads of fruit and vegetables!
An apple a day keeps the doctor (and dentist) away it seems! Choose fruit and vegetables with rough , fibre rich flesh like apples, strawberries, pineapples, carrots, celery and broccoli. A good rule of thumb is listen for a crunch! These fruit and vegetables have been shown to have a whitening and cleaning effect on the teeth as they rub against the surface as you munch and crunch them!
5. Brush with activated charcoal no more then once a week!
This method can be a little abrasive which is why I wouldn't recommend it more then once a week. Activated charcoal has been shown to pull out the impurities in our skin and gut, as well as helping shift some of the stains on our teeth's enamel. If straight activated charcoal is not your thing, then there are loads of traditional toothpastes with activated charcoal listed as an ingredient, which are safer to use every day, and certainly less abrasive.
6. Use apple cider vinegar as a mouthwash!
Apple cider vinegar is celebrated for it's antibacterial properties, so it only comes naturally to hear that it can be used to help clean and whiten your teeth. Apple cider vinegar is especially helpful for removing stains due to common culprits like coffee and nicotine Be sure to dilute the apple cider vinegar into a cup of water if you want it to be less harsh, however I have heard of people simply rubbing it on to their teeth and rinsing after 5 minutes.
7.Invest in a natural whitening toothpaste or mouthwash!
While these toothpastes and mouthwashes won't have the same effect on whitening your teeth as the chemicals at the dentist do, they do help to lessen the stains and also prevent new stains from forming. Xylitol which is used in most natural toothpastes is a natural substance found in birch trees and helps prevent stain build up with regular brushing. Some toothpastes even have bentonite clay added to help draw out impurities and staining even further!
8. Ensure you are brushing your teeth at least twice a day! Don't forget to floss!
Make sure to keep to a strict oral care routine to ensure we don't get any more surface staining on those pearly whites! if you brush too soon before or after eating or drinking, you risk more staining to your tooth enamel. Drink some water and leave at least 30 minutes between brushing your teeth and eating or drinking. Don't forget to floss!