When we smile, the last thing we want to see are stains staring back at us. Our teeth are important and considering we only have one set, we have to actively take care of them. Although oral health is linked to overall well-being, many of us focus on the appearance of our teeth, hoping to achieve pearly whites.
The truth is, tooth discolouration is an unfortunate reality. It’s critical that you take care of your teeth, as stains may not only develop on the surface but also deep within the inner structure of the tooth itself. If you have been looking to brighten up your smile, here are four natural remedies to help you along the way.
Why Are My Teeth Stained?
As mentioned, teeth can become stained due to extrinsic factors, such as soda, coffee, or cigarettes; or intrinsic factors, including too much fluoride, tooth trauma, or age-related factors. When your teeth do become stained, you will notice either white streaks or a yellow tinge.
For those who have damaged their enamel, you may also notice yellower teeth based on your dentin showing through. For those who suffer from extrinsic, or surface stains, these can generally be removed professionally or with proper home care. If you’re ready to remove stains on your teeth, give these four natural remedies a shot.
Remove Tooth Stains with These Four Natural Remedies
Professional stain removal can be expensive to say the least. If you would like to try a more natural, cost-effective solution, these four at-home remedies will help you achieve your teeth whitening goals. The key is consistency, so commit to these methods and you will see results.
- Baking soda with lemon
Baking soda trumps natural ingredients when it comes to stain removal. Whether you’re trying to remove a coffee stain from your carpet or your teeth, this powerful agent will do the trick. Being one of the most popular and effective home remedies, it’s an easy and cheap way to achieve results.
Baking soda is slightly abrasive, and when combined with lemon juice, you benefit from a brightening effect. Each of these ingredients works well on its own, so when combined, you achieve a more powerful effect. Once a week, brush with a paste made from lemon juice and basking soda _ do not leave on for more than one minute, then brush with non-fluoride toothpaste.
- Food-grade hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is known to be highly effective — not only because it targets surface stains, but can also pass into the tooth itself, breaking down complex molecules. Since these molecules reflect light, leading to discoloured looking teeth, it can help promote whiter teeth both inside and out.
You can apply hydrogen peroxide in a number of ways, with the simplest being brushing. In a small cup, combine a small amount of hydrogen peroxide with your toothpaste, stirring until well-combined. You can also dilute it with water, creating an effective oral rinse. In addition to whitening your teeth, you’ll also kill harmful bacteria and prevent gum disease.
- Choose the right foods
Your diet can greatly impact the look and overall health of your teeth, so be mindful which foods you should and should not eat. Although dark soda, blueberries, and coffee can quickly stain your teeth, the following foods can actually benefit your teeth — apples, celery, cucumbers, pears, carrots, and cauliflower.
These foods are known to increase saliva and when combined with the natural fibres found in these foods, they can naturally remove both stains and bacteria. Also, when drinking beverages, it’s important that you use a straw, as this will reduce contact. A small piece of cheese after a meal is also recommended for positive oral health.
- Oil pull
Perhaps you have heard of oil pulling — or maybe even tried it once or twice. This ancient technique is anything but a fad, it is backed by science. When swishing with coconut oil, it’s been found that individuals can not only whiten their teeth, but improve oral health and boost immune function.
What’s even more impressive, is that coconut oil has been shown to effectively decrease the formation of plaque that is known to cause gum disease and inflammation. Within one key study, 60 people were examined and after seven days of oil pulling, levels of plaque and gum disease had significantly reduced. These effects continually improved over the course of 30 days.
So, if you’d like to brighten up your smile without paying out a lump sum, give these natural, at-home remedies a fair chance. In addition to these remedies, be sure to brush and floss multiple times daily and consume a balanced, anti-inflammatory diet.
