Teeth
whitening
Whiter teeth, like thick, shiny, hair, is something that many people
in our cosmetically driven world desire today. In fact, Americans spend over
$1.4 billion dollars in over-the-counter teeth whitening products every
year-that’s a good chunk of money just to achieve a different shade of teeth.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve tried OTC teeth whitener-I even paid to
have my dentist do it once. It worked for a bit, but my teeth got so sensitive
I couldn’t stand it. I also felt I really didn’t need to be so obsessed with
the color of my teeth that I paid a bunch of money for a bunch of
who-knows-what that made my teeth hurt, so I started looking into more natural
alternatives. With a bit of patience, I think you can naturally restore
whiteness to your teeth. They may not get to be scary
sear-out-somebodies-corneas –when-you –smile white, but they’ll appear more
like you took good care of your pretty pearly whites rather than just bleaching
them like crazy.
Why do teeth
get yellow?
To figure
out how to whiten our teeth, we have to know why they get yellow in the first
place. There are several factors that play a part, including genetics, what
kind of food and drink you consume, and how well you practice oral hygiene. A
tooth is made up of 4 tissues-enamel, which is the strong white covering that
protects the tooth, dentin, which supports the enamel and is a hard yellow
material that carries nerves, pulp, which is at the center of the tooth and
contains blood and lymph vessels, and cementum, which covers the root of the
tooth.
The enamel
and dentin is what play the biggest role in color. Certain food and drinks will
directly stain the enamel, yes, but over time the two biggest culprits are the
nasty food and drink that actually break down the enamel, and weakening enamel
as we age. As the enamel breaks down, it reveals the yellow dentin underneath.
These remedies will focus on whitening teeth that have already lost some white
enamel, but it’s also good to keep in mind that doing things to strengthen
enamel is just as important so you can keep it from breaking down further. An
ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (or whitening!)
1. Baking
Soda and Lemon Juice Paste
Baking Soda
isn’t a shocker here. Sodium bicarbonate (its official name) is mildly
abrasive; gently scrubbing away surface stains to return teeth to a whiter
shade. It’s also very alkaline (the opposite of acidic) so I would think if you
have a very acidic mouth or eat a lot of acidic food, it could help balance out
the Ph, which would be useful as acid breaks down enamel-this is strictly
speculation on my part. It will also reduce the acidity of the lemon juice,
which acts as a natural bleach of sorts. I use a mixture of baking soda and
water on some days, and use the lemon juice on others, as I don’t want to
overdo it.
You will
need…
-Several
teaspoons of baking soda
-Enough
lemon juice or water to form a paste
-A
toothbrush
Directions
Mix several
teaspoons of baking soda with enough fresh lemon juice (or water) to make a
paste. Wipe your teeth and any extra saliva off of them with a paper towel. Put
a good amount of paste onto your toothbrush and apply.
Leave the
paste on for 1 minute, then rinse, so as to avoid the acid effecting enamel. If
you are using just water you can leave it on for up to 3 minutes.
2.
Strawberry, Salt and Baking Soda Scrub
Strawberries
are high in Vitamin C, which can help break-down plaque that is causing your
teeth to look yellow. It also has an enzyme called malic acid, which may help
to remove surface stains. The salt acts as an abrasive portion of the paste,
physically scrubbing away stain-causing gunk, and the baking soda is an extra
touch that you can choose to leave out if you’d prefer (I just like to add it
to anything involving my teeth.)
You will
need…
-1-3 large
strawberries
-A pinch of
seat salt
-1/2
teaspoon of baking soda (optional)
Directions
Mash the
berries into a pulp, and add a pinch of sea salt and ½ teaspoon of baking soda,
if you’re using it. Wipe any extra saliva off your teeth with a paper towel,
and then apply a generous portion of the mixture to a toothbrush and apply. Let
the mixture sit for 5 minutes, then rinse. Do this nightly.
3. Coconut
Oil Rinse
I know this
sounds absolutely mad (I thought it was crazy too when I first read about it)
but rinsing your mouth with coconut oil (called ‘oil pulling’) is a unique,
old, remedy that people swear by to help whiten teeth. It doesn’t sound like
the most pleasant thing in the world, but I actually don’t mind the taste, and
I think it does make a difference in the color of your teeth. It won’t make a
difference by “bleaching” per say, but lauric acid in coconut oil can rid your
teeth of bacteria found in plaque that can make them yellow. It is also
supposed to promote gum health, and help keep your breath fresh.
You will
need…
-About a
tablespoon of coconut oil
Directions
In the
morning, before you brush your teeth, scoop out a tablespoon or a little less
(depending on the size of your mouth) of coconut oil. You can either soften it,
or just put it in your mouth (I usually do the latter, and just let it soften.)
Push, swish, and “pull” the oil through and around your teeth for 10-15
minutes, then spit it out, rinse with water, and brush your teeth.
Note: You
can use either of the pastes after you have brushed your teeth at night if you
prefer.
Are these
remedies going to guarantee ridiculously white teeth within a week?
No. You may
start to see a difference, but it won’t be as instant as the commercial
products.
In the end, will your teeth be so white people squint when you open
your mouth?
No. And I like it better that way. I’ve found that since using
these my teeth are indeed whiter, my mouth overall feels healthier and it
doesn’t look like I bleached the life out of myself. We live in a world where
photo-shopped faces (and teeth) and make-up covered celebrities set the standard
for how we look, which makes life hard for people who like, well, real people.
As a result we seem to forget what’s good for ourselves, and spend a ton of
money just to look like the ideal. By going natural here, you can save the
money for something else, feel better about yourself, and have a healthier
mouth (and health is what, in the end, creates real beauty.)
Teeth
Whitening Tips
Routine - Set up a routine using these remedies and stick to it, at all costs, to get the
most out of them.
While not
“natural” per say, using 3% (I repeat, 3%) hydrogen peroxide as a mouth rinse
can whiten your teeth through the process of oxidation. It is an active
indigent in many OTC whitening kits, but is often times found in much higher
(and expensive) combinations in them.
It’s
fairly common knowledge, and difficult in today’s world, but try to avoid dark
drinks, such as coke and coffee that stain your teeth.
By Claire
Goodall
Claire is a
lover of life, the natural world, and wild blueberries. On the weekend you can
find her fiddling in the garden, playing with her dogs, and enjoying the great
outdoors with her horse.
NOTE - ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE STARTING ANYTHING NEW.
NOTE - ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE STARTING ANYTHING NEW.
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