Home Remedies for Teeth Whitening

The teeth are the hardest part of the human anatomy. It is used for chewing and masticating (that is breaking down food). It also enables pronunciations and speech, it shapes the face, and it is important to the way a person looks. Not to mention that it is important to find the right dentist for you; check out the professional dental clinic in Shrewsbury if you need a recommendation.

 

While children grow theirs and the number increases over time, a typical adult has 32 teeth which will not in any way increase in number. These are divided into four main types. They are the incisors which are the eight frontal parts of the teeth located in the upper and lower jaws and are used for cutting into food. 

The next are the canines. These are slightly pointed and sharp. They are situated on either side of the incisors. They are also called cuspids. There are the premolars which are good for biting. They are considered transitional as they help guide food from the canines to the molars for chewing. 

Finally, the molars are at the back of the mouth and they are the largest. They are great for clenching, chewing, grinding, and crushing food. Most adults have 12 molars. With 3 on either side of the upper and lower jaw. You can read further on this here. 

A single tooth also has different parts. These are:- (a) the enamel which is the obvious white part and the hardest of the tooth. It is made up of calcium phosphate (b) the dentin which is just below the enamel. It is a hard tissue containing microscopic tubes (c) the pulp which hosts blood vessels. It is a soft and living part of a tooth (d) the cementum which binds the tooth to the gum and the jawbone and (e) the periodontal ligament which holds the tooth to the jaw. 

Caring For the Teeth 

Taking good care of the teeth is important for oral health as well as your overall wellbeing. It helps to avoid decay and dental issues which can be painful and sometimes devastating when they occur. Problem with your teeth can have an adverse effect on you mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Brushing is the most obvious as well as the easiest way for most people to take care of their dentition although there are other methods. It is advisable to do this twice daily especially after the last meal of the day. Other ways of caring for it include rinsing, flossing, tooth filing, extraction, using braces, using dental sealants, and of course regular visits to a dentist for checkup and treatment. 

An important result of caring for your dentition is healthy and white teeth which can also be achieved by teeth whitening process. 

As we grow older, over time, the color of the teeth begins to change and it loses its white sparkle and becomes dull due to a number of factors. Most times, it begins to turn yellowish or brownish. This can be as a result of things like food stains over the years and it could be due to tobacco for people who smoke. It can also be as a result of plaque that has built up over time or the eroding of the enamel. 

The good thing is that it is possible to get your white teeth back by a number of methods which we would be highlighting shortly in this article. You can find more ways to care for the teeth here https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/best-practices-for-healthy-teeth. 

Teeth whitening 

This is simply a way or process of making the teeth white. That is, lightening it or removing its discoloration so that it may return to its natural white state. This can as well be called teeth bleaching. You should understand that whitening may not fully restore your dentition to its original white but it will remove the discoloration to a significant level. 

There is a lot to gain when you whiten your teeth. These include:

Confidence

It is not likely that you will smile a lot when you have issues with your dentition. Asides from the fact that you would be so self-conscious and avoid meeting people, it does impact you negatively. Your self-esteem will be affected and when you do not smile a lot, people will not be attracted to you. 

Your dentition is an important part of your smile and this is what people notice first about you. It is also what attracts and encourages people to become your friend. If your teeth are white, you will be more confident to smile and flaunt it. This makes it easier for you to get attention and it will be beneficial to your relationships and social life.

Good Oral Hygiene

Teeth whitening also helps to improve your oral health. The chemicals contained in the different products are able to kill disease and decay-causing bacteria and micro-organisms. In addition to this, it helps to make your teeth strong and ultimately improve your overall health. 

It Boosts Your Appearance

A lot of people care about the way they look and rightly so. It affects the way they are perceived and everyone loves to be seen in a positive light to a large extent. Part of this includes the way they talk, dress, as well as the appearance of their dentition. A good dentition improves your appearance and in turn your reputation and how people will perceive you. This also makes you happy, relatable and fun to be with. 

It Benefits Your Career

Following from the above points. A good and white dentition enhances both your appearance and confidence. These are two good characteristics that can boost your career as well as opportunities that are available to you. You will also radiate enthusiasm and energy. Everyone likes to employ or work with people that are confident and good looking. 

Home Remedies to Use for Teeth Whitening 

Teeth whitening can be done using several methods which can either be natural or artificial. Note that no teeth whitening remedy whether artificial or natural is a replacement for normal dental hygiene which includes brushing twice a day and flossing at least once.

Most modern products typically contain a diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide which helps in bleaching and cleaning stains off the teeth. It has been certified safe for use but there is still a small chance that it can damage the enamel. 

For people who do not like to use chemicals, there are natural home remedies that can be used instead. Some of them are: 

Baking Soda

Baking soda is usually used as a leavening for baked foods such as cakes and cookies. It is a crystalline powder and it is naturally alkaline. This makes it mildly abrasive and as a result, it can be used to clean off stains from the teeth when it is used to brush them. 

Alkaline solutions or bases help to change the pH balance of the mouth and make it less acidic. Harmful bacteria will thrive more in an acidic environment so using baking soda helps to disrupt that. Using baking soda once will not cause an immediate change in your teeth’s color but with consistent usage, you can begin to notice a gradual change. 

To use baking soda, mix a little bit of it with water so that it becomes a paste. Apply to your toothbrush and brush your teeth with it. Keep in mind that this is in addition to your regular daily brushing and not a replacement. 

As an alternative, you may purchase a toothpaste that contains baking soda. Because baking soda is abrasive in nature, it can hurt your enamel if you use it often, therefore, you need to be careful. You can limit its use to two or three times a week. 

Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal is a black and odorless powder. It is made from coconut shells, bone char, coal, petroleum coke, peat, olive pits and sawdust. It is then activated when it is processed at high temperatures which changes the internal structure and makes it porous. You can read further about activated charcoal in this article.

Activated charcoal is different from those ones you will use for your barbecue fires. These are called charcoal briquettes and they contain toxic substances. 

Activated charcoal has many medical and cosmetic uses due to its toxin absorbing properties which means is it adsorbent and abrasive in nature. It is used for treating drug overdoses as it binds to the drugs and neutralizes its effects. These same characteristics are what make it useful for teeth whitening.

Note however that the American Dental Association does not recommend activated charcoal as it is very abrasive. If you are not careful, it can cause damage to your enamel. 

Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is a medical practice where an edible oil is put in the mouth and swished around for a bit before it is spat out. It works just like mouthwash. Oil pulling is an old tradition but it is still useful even today. 

When oil such as coconut oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, etc. is swished around the mouth, it removes debris around the mouth and teeth. It also helps to kill as well as wash away any bacteria that is present there. Most people prefer to use coconut oil due to its taste and health benefits. 

Another good thing about oil pulling is that there is no chance of the oil damaging your enamel.

Although there is not a lot of research on how effective it is but there are few studies that advocate its usefulness in this regard. Also, since it does not have any negative impact or side effect, you have nothing to lose if you try it.

Foods such as fruits are other home remedies that can be used to whiten your teeth and kill any bacteria that is present. Common fruits such as apple and pineapple contain chemicals and substances such as malic acid and bromelain that have cleansing properties. 

Cheese is also a type of food the can be used for teeth whitening. It contains lactic acid that helps to fight tooth decay. 

Willing to learn more? You can check out the blog post: https://www.trysnow.com/blogs/news/home-remedies-that-will-actually-whiten-your-teeth. 

Taking care of the teeth is important and teeth whitening is a big part of this. By taking steps to whiten it, you will reap the benefits of doing so as you will be healthier and more confident. 

There are different home remedies that you can use to whiten your teeth. If you feel they are not working for you, there are other modern methods that you can use. Whatever you decide to use, remember that a white dentition is always within reach for you.