The number one question asked by people who want to whiten their teeth naturally is how to whiten teeth effectively. So, what’s the answer? The following tips will help you naturally whiten your teeth quickly and easily using simple home remedies and natural ingredients that you can find in your own kitchen. Some of these tips you may already know, but hopefully there are some new ideas here as well!
Avoid junk food
Avoiding junk food is one of the easiest and most effective ways to naturally whiten your teeth. Fruits and vegetables are natural stain removers and will help bring your smile back to its original color. If you’re concerned about foods containing sugar, it’s best not to eat them anyway, since sugar isn’t good for your overall health. Avoiding soda is also important. The sugars in soda can cause rapid staining of your teeth, so swapping a glass of Coke for a glass of water will naturally whiten your teeth over time. Of course, if you need something with a bit more flavor, try adding a slice of lemon or lime or some mint leaves. Fruit juices are also great—especially cranberry juice!
Eat more green apples
Apples contain a naturally occurring acid that helps prevent tooth decay and has been proven to help whiten teeth. And, because of their bright color, apples are visible stains on your teeth for days. The next time you’re about to eat or drink something sugary, toss an apple in your bag or pocket instead—you might just end up with whiter teeth than before! Be sure not eat or drink anything acidic for at least 30 minutes after eating an apple; do so and you’ll end up with white pink rings around your mouth that can stay there for hours. Green apples are especially effective at whitening teeth because they have more malic acid than red varieties.
Use activated charcoal
Activated charcoal has long been used as a home remedy for odor removal. It is also great at getting rid of stains and whitening teeth naturally. All you need is some activated charcoal powder, toothpaste, and baking soda to create your own natural teeth-whitening solution. To start, mix together one teaspoon of activated charcoal powder with two teaspoons of water. Next, wet your toothbrush in warm water and dip it into your mouthwash before using it normally.
Use coconut oil
Coconut oil has many uses and one of them is to whiten your teeth. Mix a tablespoon of coconut oil with 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Then, mix in 3 drops of peppermint essential oil and 5 drops of lemon essential oil, if you’d like. You can then apply it using a toothbrush or just rub it around your teeth for 10 minutes and rinse it off with warm water. The coconut oil will create an anti-bacterial barrier on your teeth that kills bacteria and strengthens your enamel at the same time. After about 30 days, you should see results. If not, try a new natural remedy for whitening teeth such as fresh strawberries or egg whites or apple cider vinegar.
Take a zinc supplement
If you’re eating a lot of dark chocolate, you may be undoing your efforts at tooth whitening. A good dose of zinc can boost your body’s production of selenium, an antioxidant that helps protect against free radicals and keeps your teeth whiter. Take 20 milligrams a day for three months if you want to naturally whiten your teeth. We like Natural Factors Zinc Gluconate ($5 for 100 tablets).
Go natural with baking soda
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a natural whitener that can do wonders for your teeth. Just make sure you’re careful not to swallow it as it can mess with your stomach and/or heartburn. Mix baking soda with some sea salt and brush with it daily, or even add it in place of toothpaste in order to help naturally whiten your teeth. If you’d like an extra brightening boost, try mixing a bit of mouthwash into your baking soda! Here’s how: take 1⁄4 cup of baking soda and add 20 drops of any mouthwash (about two tablespoons). This mixture will help remove stains from surfaces, as well as kill bacteria that causes bad breath and other oral health issues.
Try strawberries and cinnamon
To naturally whiten teeth, try incorporating strawberries and cinnamon into your daily routine. Strawberries contain an enzyme called malic acid that gently breaks down discoloration on your teeth; its tart flavor is also a nice alternative to toothpaste. A pinch of cinnamon sprinkled over fresh strawberries will help you get rid of stains without scrubbing too hard (or risking enamel damage). While strawberries are delicious eaten whole, they can stain fabrics and even skin—so make sure you rinse them off well before indulging in your afternoon snack.
Drink lots of water
Even if you don’t believe in oil pulling or swishing coconut oil around your mouth, there is ample evidence that drinking lots of water will naturally whiten your teeth. This is likely because you’re flushing out old particles and allowing for new ones to emerge. If you want faster results, however, opt for a natural white rinse like baking soda or lemon juice—just remember that these products can be abrasive on tooth enamel and shouldn’t be used too often (once a week should do it). Another option? Use a whitening toothpaste. For example, Listerine Zero has whitening ingredients that can help remove surface stains and freshen breath.
