By Eric Reyes
A common question people ask of those who run a dentist practice is how they can whiten their teeth through natural and organic means.
Everyone wants whiter teeth, but few want to use harsh chemicals or inorganic compounds to make this happen. Fortunately, there are many ways you can whiten teeth organically.
Here are 8 of the best:
- Mixing Baking Soda, Salt and Lemon Juice with Your Toothpaste
To employ this method, mix the following ingredients in a bowl:
- 1 tablespoon of toothpaste
- 1 pinch each of baking soda and salt
- 4-5 drops of lemon juice
After you have mixed all the ingredients, brush your teeth with this mixture for about 5 minutes.
While you should see results after just one application of the mixture, you should not use this method more than once every two months.
- Teeth-Whitening Foods
Many tasty and healthy-to-eat foods can also whiten your teeth, such as fruit, dairy and crunchy vegetables. These foods include:
- Cheese
- Strawberries
- Carrots
- Celery
- Broccoli
- Cucumbers
Results may vary by individual, so try a few of these foods and see which ones work best for you.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar is particularly adept at removing tough stains on your teeth. To use this method, add a teaspoon of vinegar to half a cup of water, so to dilute its acidity. Then, swish this mixture in your mouth for about a half-minute before spitting it out and rinsing your mouth with water alone. Finally, do not brush your teeth for a half-hour afterward, as this could remove enamel from your teeth.
- Oil Pulling
This is a traditional Indian method of whitening your teeth that will also remove various toxins from your mouth while improving your overall oral hygiene as well. To use this method, swish a teaspoon of natural oil, such as coconut oil or sunflower oil, in your mouth for about 20 minutes. Then, spit it out and rinse your mouth with water.
- Organic Turmeric Powder
Organic turmeric powder has a natural and mild abrasiveness that can remove stains from your teeth. It is also anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, so it also improves overall oral hygiene. To use this method, mix a teaspoon of organic turmeric powder with a dash of water. Then, brush your teeth with this for two minutes before rinsing and brushing with normal toothpaste. Just be careful when cleaning up, as turmeric can stains some sinks.
- Kissing
While you probably know that kissing can be enjoyable, you probably did not know that it can actually whiten your teeth. Kissing does this because it increases saliva production, which, in turn, helps removes stains from your teeth. You can also increase saliva production by chewing gum and by sucking on a candy. Though if you do either of these things, make sure you select a sugar-free variety.
- Banana Peels
Banana peels (as well as orange rinds) contain vitamins and minerals that have been known to whiten teeth. To use this method, rubs the inside of the peels against your teeth for a few minutes. Then, wait 10 minutes and brush your teeth as you would normally do.
- Charcoal
While it may seem counterintuitive, activated charcoal is actually a great way to whiten your teeth. It is also a cheap and easy way to do it. Simply take a charcoal tablet and crush it into a powder. Then, after you wet your clean toothbrush under water, dip the bristles into the charcoal and brush your teeth like you would normally do for 2 minutes.
In conclusion, keep in mind that it is not recommended to try all of these methods at once. Instead, try one or two of them at a time for a short period and see which of them works best for you. Also, if you are having any kind of problems with your teeth, you should visit a dentist and fix these problems before trying to whiten your teeth yourself.
