20 Home Remedies to Get Whiter Teeth

Having whiter teeth is often one of the most sought-after cosmetic procedures across the world. Around eighteen percent of people say they conceal their teeth when smiling or taking photographs because they are embarrassed by their teeth due to the fact that they have yellowed over time. But for many, teeth whitening seems like an expensive and out of reach possibility. In fact, in America alone eleven billion dollars were spent over the course of 2015 on teeth whitening products and procedures. But the process doesn’t have to be expensive! There are a number of home remedies to get whiter teeth that come without the weighty price tag.

Why Do People Prefer Whiter Teeth?

Many people say that teeth and smiles are the first things they notice when meeting someone new. So, if you want to make a good first impression – a good smile is key. Not only that, but whiter teeth also show that your teeth are healthy and that you take good care of your personal hygiene.

 

What Makes Teeth Discolored?

Teeth become discolored over the years for a number of reasons, from not brushing properly to smoking heavily. Even the things we eat and drink can cause our teeth to become discolored. These things can cause staining to the white enamel which makes them appear discolored.

However, there are other ways that your teeth can become darker and less white – and these usually come with more complications. Your teeth are made white by the white enamel that coats them. Enamel provides a protective layer, protecting your tooth and the dentin inside it from harm. This dentin is usually brown in color so if your enamel begins to wear away through erosion the brown dentin may become exposed. This will not only make your teeth look darker, it can also make them more sensitive and more vulnerable to decay.

 

Drawbacks of Teeth Whitening

Some conventional teeth whitening products available on the mass market have actually been shown to damage your enamel, which could lead to over sensitivity and an increased risk of tooth decay, which would ultimately lead to the loss of your teeth. Even some natural methods of teeth whitening can be too acidic for regular use and should be used sparingly as too much acid will damage your enamel and send you one step forward but two steps back.

Home Remedies to Get Whiter Teeth

1. Brush Your Teeth After Eating and Drinking

Food and drink are one of the key culprits when it comes to staining teeth. If you can, it’s always a good idea to brush your teeth around twenty minutes after eating or drinking. Of course, this isn’t always possible― especially if you’re a fan of frequent snacking or regular tea and coffee breaks. Even brushing your teeth and extra time a day at lunchtime or when you get home from work or school can really help to reduce stains on your teeth and brighten your smile.

Make sure you use a toothpaste with plenty of fluorides to keep your teeth clean― you could also opt for a whitening toothpaste as these are usually a little better at reducing staining than regular kinds of toothpaste.

2. Stop Smoking

Along with food and drink, smoking is the main cause of staining to teeth. Over time, the smoke and chemicals in cigarettes will stain your teeth and cause them to look yellow or dirty. By quitting smoking you’re limiting the risk of staining significantly.

 

3. Avoid Too Much Black Coffee or Red Wine

While most foods will cause a small amount of staining over time, black coffee and red wine are two of the worst for creating stains. Their naturally darker color means they’ll have more of an effect on the white of your enamel so avoiding them is a great way to get whiter teeth.

 

4. Baking Soda

Baking soda is a popular home remedy to get whiter teeth because it has natural whitening properties. It’s a natural abrasive which makes it great for removing stains from your tooth surface and giving you a brighter, whiter smile. However, because it’s abrasive, using it too often or using too much could wear your enamel right down, so use it sparingly alongside maintaining good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth regularly with regular toothpaste.

To get the best results, brush your teeth normally then mix a small amount of baking soda with some water to create a paste. Rub the paste into your teeth gently for thirty seconds. Make sure you rinse your mouth thoroughly once you’re done to protect your teeth.

 

5. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is really making headlines with the variety of ways it can be used to improve our health and appearance so here’s another benefit to add to the list― coconut oil is a great home remedy to get whiter teeth! There have been a large number of reports that people’s teeth have looked significantly whiter and glossier after applying coconut oil to their teeth.

You can apply coconut oil to your teeth by adding a few drops to your toothbrush and brushing it on or using a clean cloth to apply the oil to the surface of your teeth. You can also use the oil like a mouthwash by placing a teaspoon of oil in your mouth, letting it melt and then swilling it around your mouth for a minute or two.

 

6. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is known for its antibacterial properties which make it great for cleaning teeth and keeping your gums healthy. With this in mind, it’s hardly surprising that it also makes a great home remedy to get whiter teeth.

Avoid using it every day though as it’s quite acidic and could cause damage to your enamel if overused. You could also try diluting the vinegar with some acid to use as a mouthwash and swill it around your mouth for two minutes― make sure you swill well enough to cover each and every tooth. After using, make sure you brush your teeth with regular toothpaste to negate the effects of the acid in vinegar.

7. Lemon or Orange Peels

The peel from oranges and lemons has a similar effect to that of apple cider vinegar as it helps to remove surface stains and leave your teeth looking brighter and whiter. However, also like apple cider vinegar, these fruits tend to be quite acid so overuse could damage your enamel. Remember to rinse your mouth afterward and brush your teeth with regular toothpaste to reduce the risk of acid erosion.

 

8. Strawberries

We all know that eating plenty of fruit and veggies are good for us, but did you know that it also forms a number of great home remedies for whiter teeth? You can try mushing up some strawberries and brushing with the mixture to remove stains― it also works quite well when combined with baking soda.

Eating strawberries normally could also help to do the job, as long as you chew them thoroughly. It’s thought that the acid in strawberries is what helps them to remove stains while their high vitamin C content is great from removing plaque and reducing your risk of gum disease. As with other acidic methods though, it’s best not to overuse strawberries in your mission to get a whiter smile. Rinsing your mouth with water after using any acidic method is always a good way to help lower the damage or effects of acid erosion.

 

9. Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal has absorbent properties that allow it to absorb the stains from your teeth leaving them looking cleaner and whiter. It’s also thought to help with removing plaque which is great for your overall oral health.

To use, wet your toothbrush and dip it into a small amount of powdered charcoal (make sure the charcoal is activated otherwise you could do yourself harm). Use the charcoal to brush your teeth with a special focus on the areas where you notice the most staining. Once you’re confident you’ve brushed everywhere rinse sip some water and swill it around your mouth like mouthwash. Spit and repeat the rinsing until your spit is clear and all the charcoal has been removed from your teeth.

10. Hydrogen Peroxide

When using hydrogen peroxide to whiten your teeth at home make sure you use food grade peroxide to reduce the risk of damage to your teeth and lower the risk of internal damage if swallowed accidentally.

Hydrogen peroxide is known to have antibacterial properties which can help to keep your mouth clean and healthy and leave your teeth looking whiter as a result. You can often combine it with baking soda to create a paste. It’s best used when mixed 50/50 with water and used as a mouthwash. Swirl it around your mouth for approximately one minute and spit it out again, rinsing your mouth thoroughly afterward. Diluting the peroxide will reduce any irritation to your gums and lessen the likelihood of making your teeth sensitive and as with many other methods, limit the number of times you use it to no more than twice a week in order to protect your enamel.

 

11. Pineapple

There’s a particular enzyme in pineapple that has been found to really help lift stains when used in toothpaste. While it’s not certain that eating fresh pineapple will have the same effect, you could try using it as a paste like you would with strawberries and rinsing your mouth or brushing with regular toothpaste afterward.

12. Limit Your Sugar Intake

Diets that contain a lot of sugar aren’t great for your teeth. They can increase the risk of decay, gum disease, and lead to an increase in the bacteria that cause plaque (the sticky yellow substance that can make your teeth look very dirty).

All of these issues lead to your teeth looking discolored and dark, so cutting down on the sweet stuff is sure to help prevent the darkening of teeth. Remember, often, prevention is better and easier than the cure.  Eating sugary foods every so often is fine― just make sure you brush your teeth around 25 minutes after eating.

 

13. Calcium

Because a lot of tooth discoloration comes as a result of worn enamel, it makes sense that getting plenty of calcium can help to keep your teeth looking healthy and white. Try to incorporate plenty of cheeses, milk, and broccoli into your diet as these are packed full of calcium to help your teeth stay strong and white.

 

14. Flossing

Brushing your teeth is the most obvious way to keep your teeth clean and white, but flossing is just as important. Simply brushing your teeth won’t always get in between your teeth to remove the plaque that gets stuck there. Having a lot of plaque can make your teeth look far more yellow, so keeping them clean and removing all that plaque is a great and simple method for keeping your teeth looking clean and white.

15. Crunchy Fruits and Veggies

Crunchy vegetables are also a great way to keep your teeth clean, acting almost like a natural toothbrush. The act of crunching and chewing helps to clean your teeth and wash away bacteria which would otherwise go on to cause a buildup of plaque.

Plus, fruit tends to be naturally acidic which makes it great for whitening teeth. Like with any acid foods, however, try not to overdo it. You really don’t want to risk wearing away your enamel.

 

16. Use A Straw

Because so many drinks can stain or damage your teeth drinking through a straw can provide that added protection. By using a straw where you can, you are able to direct your drink away from your teeth, minimizing their staining or damaging effects.

17. Turmeric Powder

Though it’s bright yellow color may make turmeric an odd choice for a home remedy for whiter teeth, it is, in fact, a great way to remove surface stains. Like baking soda, turmeric powder has an abrasive quality which makes it great for scrubbing stains.

Mix the powder with a little water to create a paste and brush that over your teeth― try to pay particular attention to the areas where you’ve noticed more staining. Turmeric is also great for your general oral hygiene as it has anti-inflammatory qualities which is great news for gum health.

After using a turmeric paste it’s really important that you rinse your mouth thoroughly. As already mentioned, turmeric is naturally bright yellow in color and does tend to stain so if you don’t rinse properly after using it you might have the opposite effect to the one you were after. For this reason, it’s also important that you rinse your mouth or brush your teeth after you’ve had a curry that contains turmeric as this way you’ll reduce the risk of staining.

 

18. Kaolin Clay

Although this isn’t as well tried and tested as some of the other home remedies to get whiter teeth, it is thought to provide noticeable results. It has an antibacterial quality which makes it great for reducing plaque which is known to make teeth look yellow and dull. It also contains large quantities of magnesium and calcium, both of which help to strengthen teeth― remember, strong healthy teeth are more likely to look whiter.

Like when using charcoal or baking powder, you can use Kaolin clay as you would a regular toothpaste, just be sure to rinse your mouth thoroughly afterward and don’t use it in place of your standard toothpaste every time you brush.

19. Cocoa Powder

Yep, the stuff that makes chocolate can also be a great way to whiten your teeth. It’s like the gift that keeps on giving. There’s evidence to support the idea that cocoa powder naturally contains a certain chemical that helps to strengthen and protect your enamel, which as we know helps your teeth to look whiter.

You could try mixing it with coconut oil to make a paste and brush your teeth with it once or twice a week, or you could add it to some water and use like a mouthwash. Either way, it’s sure to make one tasty tooth whitening home remedy.

 

20. Yogurt

Yogurt contains helpful probiotics which help to fight plaque and stop your teeth from looking dull. Not only that, it’s also packed full of calcium which is great for strong enamel, and strong enamel is whiter.

Which of these home remedies are you going to try? Comment below!

References

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/whiten-teeth-naturally#section9

https://madentalassociates.com/4-proven-home-remedies-to-whiten-teeth/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322421.php

https://food.ndtv.com/beauty/top-5-teeth-whitening-home-remedies-706064

http://naturalsociety.com/natural-teeth-whitening-home-remedies/

https://brendid.com/14-easy-ways-to-naturally-whiten-teeth-at-home-today/

https://beverlyhillsmd.com/whiten-teeth-naturally-2/

https://www.healthtippshub.com/whiten-teeth-naturally/