How to Whiten Your Teeth Without Damaging Them

Tips to whiten your teeth Ways to whiten your teeth

There is nothing more attractive than a beautiful smile with sparking white teeth. However, while most of us are born with teeth in good condition, a number of factors contribute towards the deterioration and discoloration of teeth and we end up wishing for those pearly whites we were born with. There are, however, a number of ways you can transform the color of your teeth to a brighter, whiter shade from home remedies to advanced dental treatments. “Here are a few great remedies to help you whiten your teeth to get a super sparkling smile”.

Reasons for yellow teeth

We are not born with yellow or discoloured teeth – a variety of factors throughout our lives contribute towards this change and can be prevented. There are several causes of tooth discoloration:

Poor dental hygiene – teeth can be become discoloured due to poor dental hygiene, such as inadequate brushing, lack of flossing to remove plaque, and forgetting to brush after eating or drinking stain-producing substances like coffee and tobacco.

Certain food and drinks – certain food and drinks produce stains that are difficult to remove from the teeth and lead to discoloring, such as coffee, tea, colas, red wine and some fruit and vegetables like potatoes.

Smoking – smoking is one of the greatest causes of tooth discoloration and causes teeth to become yellow or brown with stains from the tobacco.

Dental diseases – several dental diseases affect the enamel and the dentin of the tooth and can lead to teeth losing their whiteness, such as head and neck radiation and chemotherapy.

Certain medications – some medications can also cause teeth to become discoloured, such as antihistamines, antipsychotic drugs, and drugs for high blood pressure. Ironically, some mouth rinses are also a cause of tooth discoloration due to the ingredients of chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chlorine.

Age – general aging causes the outer layer of enamel to wear away, revealing the natural yellow color of the dentin beneath the enamel.

Environmental factors can play a role in tooth discoloration, such as water with a high fluoride content or excessive use of items with fluoride, like rinses, toothpastes, or fluoride supplements.

Natural remedies to get white teeth

Brush after Eating and Drinking- One of the easiest ways to keep your teeth bright and white is to brush after every meal. It is important to remove any stain-producing elements that you might have consumed as soon as possible to avoid them sticking and staining the teeth. Brushing after every meal will go a long way towards keeping teeth healthy and white.

Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide- A great natural remedy for whitening teeth is a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Mix a small amount of baking soda with hydrogen peroxide to create a thick, smooth paste. Brush your teeth as normal with the paste, making sure to brush right at the back as well. The hydrogen peroxide not only acts as bleach, but also as an excellent anti-bacterial agent to keep germs and plaque at bay.

Expert tip! Make sure the paste is not gritty as this means there is too much baking soda in the mix, which could rub the enamel off the teeth.

Coconut Oil Rinse- Coconut oil is a fantastic natural tooth whitening remedy. Simply swirl a few teaspoons of coconut oil in your mouth before and after brushing, twice or three times a day. The oil has natural whitening properties, as well as good antimicrobial properties, which aid in keeping the gums healthy too.

Strawberry and Lemon Paste- This is a good remedy if you like fruit. Simply mash a few strawberries into a paste, add a good squeeze of lemon juice, a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of baking soda. Mix this all together and brush with this paste twice a day. The salt and the baking soda have abrasive properties which clean away any tough plaque and stains, while the acidic lemon and ascorbic strawberries acts as anti-bacterial and antimicrobial agents to clean the teeth.

Orange or Lemon Peels- Orange or lemon rinds or peels have fantastic acidic properties that can help keep teeth clean by stripping the plaque and other stains from the surface of the teeth. Simply rub some rind on the teeth after brushing, and then rinse with some water. It is important to rinse after rubbing with the peels, as the acid in the orange or lemon can strip the enamel if left on the tooth for too long.