Last updated on September 7th, 2018 at 09:03 am
Healthy white teeth are the best accessory you can wear. I am sure you would agree that when you meet someone, at the first glance, the primary thing, which anyone will notice, is your smile. Hence, besides giving you that perfect youthful appearance, your teeth forms a part of the first impression you make on someone. It is a very pleasant feeling to look good. Naturally, when you have those pretty, healthy bright teeth, the inner happiness gets reflected on your smile. You will automatically smile bigger which will attract people even more towards you. Each one of us strive to get healthy and white teeth, but sometime we struggle to get it right. I myself have struggled even after using a number of commercial toothpastes. But finally I managed to whiten my teeth with simple remedies and ingredients like turmeric and coconut oil. If you want to brighten your teeth and wondering about how to get it right, then here’s the post worth checking. Today in this post, I am going to share some of the most effective and easy to apply remedies that will help you get healthy white teeth, almost naturally.
I find many people concealing their teeth in photos, mostly due to the fear of becoming the butt of ridicule over the yellowish appearance of their teeth. Well, if you ask me, there is nothing to get dishearten about it because with good oral hygiene and healthy lifestyle you yourself can get healthy white teeth and fresh smile.
I know that not too many things can replace a healthy, happy smile but oral health is something more to that. Although often ignored, but if you watch closely, you will find that it touches almost all facet of human life. Your mouth is the door to probe into the health of your body. Every sign of nutritional deficiency or other general infection will automatically get reflected. Many diseases for example the systemic disease, which affects the entire body, becomes apparent due to the various oral problems.
Besides, if you do not take care of your teeth, you may suffer from various dental problems that further results into ugly, unhealthy teeth. Some of the most common dental problems you may face are here under:
- Tooth decay or cavities
- Bad breath
- Gum (periodontal) disease
- Oral cancer
- Mouth sores
- Gingivitis
- Tooth erosion
- Tooth sensitivity
- Toothaches
- Enamel degradation
Now that you know how important it is to get healthy white teeth, let me tell you a bit about the other factors that may result into ugly, unhealthy, yellow, beige or brown teeth.
Factors leading to unhealthy, yellow or brown teeth
Besides the above-mentioned dental diseases, there are other factors as well which result in unhealthy, yellow or brown teeth. You might be doing various things unknowingly, which might be affecting your teeth. So take a look at the factors leading to ugly, unhealthy teeth that will probably help in your dental care.
- Smoking cigarettes
- Drinking coffee or tea
- Red and white wine
- Brightly colored fruits and vegetables
- Curry and other sauces
- Aging (mainly leads to enamel thinning)
- Poor diet (mainly processed foods or supplements containing acids)
- Usage of antibiotics
- Excessive fluoride intake
- Dry mouth (as lack of saliva means less protection for enamel)
- Breaking through mouth and having blocked nasal passages (these lowers saliva)
- Genetic factors
A friend of mine who is an assistant to a dentist suggested me a few remedies that helps in teeth whitening and maintaining oral hygiene.
How to get healthy white teeth naturally and easily
In this looks obsessed world, some of us have become thoroughly addicted to whiten our teeth. They spend lots of money on costly commercial teeth whitening products. Research has shown that many teeth-whitening products can cause major damage to their teeth by removing too much enamel. For example if you constantly apply whitening strips, it will lead to erosion of enamel over the passage of time and ultimate result in tooth sensitivity.
Therefore, the safest way to have healthy white teeth is to maintain proper oral hygiene and use the natural products that are both easy to use as well as cost effective.
A friend of mine who is an assistant to a dentist suggested me a few simple tricks that I usually follow and it works. I have compiled a list of best and easy to follow tips that should help you to get healthy white teeth.
Are you ready?
Turmeric
Powdered turmeric is a natural tooth whitener. Several studies have suggested that it is highly beneficial ingredient as far as teeth whitening are concerned. Brushing your teeth with the mixture of turmeric and coconut oil is said to be highly beneficial and I can vouch for this because I myself have tried this remedy and it works. You need to wait for around 5 minutes for the paste to work on your teeth and then rinse it well. Then again brush your teeth with any normal toothpaste and thoroughly clean your mouth again.
However, there are other opinions as well where people claim that using turmeric can intensify the yellowish tinge. But I feel that if you are able to clean your mouth properly after using turmeric, then you will not get that yellow tinge. Studies have found that turmeric had a positive effect on gingival inflammation as well. In addition, “Journal of Natural Biology, Science & Medicine” review concluded that it can be beneficial for dental pain.
Coconut oil pulling
Oil pulling is a very traditional folk remedy which has been used for oral hygiene and to remove the toxins. It involves you to swish oil around your mouth to remove bacteria, which can turn into plaque and cause your teeth to look yellow. Although most of the oil will work in such a remedy, but coconut oil is a popular choice due to its pleasant taste and many health benefits. Besides the method of swishing coconut oil in your mouth, you can also apply coconut oil to a corner of a clean washcloth and rub it on the teeth.
The antimicrobial properties of coconut oil protect and clean your gums. It is also high in lauric acid, which is known for its ability to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria. It is safe to go for coconut oil pulling daily.
Apple cider vinegar
Another ingredient that is used for centuries as a natural disinfectant and cleaning product is apple cider vinegar. Stains can get easily removed due to the pH of apple cider vinegar, especially those that are caused from coffee and nicotine (smoking). ACV contains a variety of compounds with acetic acid being the most vital one. Others are magnesium, potassium, probiotics and enzyme. These constituents help your body kill the “bad” bacteria and promote the growth of the “good” probiotic bacteria. It being naturally acidic helps to break down plaque or other substances stuck to the teeth.
Studies have shown that baking soda has the natural bleaching properties. However, you must not use it too much as then it can remove the enamel and soften your teeth. Try to avoid contact with eye as well.
Lemon or orange peels
Many believe that the citrus fruits contain many beneficial acids, which help in whitening the teeth. Besides the fruits are over all healthy benefiting digestion due to regulating levels of stomach acid. But just like apple cider vinegar, they also have high acid content which may wear away the enamel. So it is always safe to rinse your mouth properly after using the lemon or orange peel.
Strawberry
Strawberries contain many beneficial antioxidants and other compounds that are very essential for your teeth. You can also use the mixture of strawberry and baking soda, which is a very natural way of whitening your teeth. The malic acid in strawberry will help you to get rid of the teeth discoloration while the baking soda will clean away stains. However, excessive use of this remedy may damage your teeth, so take caution and use sensitively.
Pineapple
This is another fruit that has been associated with teeth whitening. According to studies, many toothpastes that contain bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapples, was found to be more capable of removing stains in comparison to other ordinary toothpastes. So if you are after whitening your teeth, eat lots of pineapple.
Activated charcoal
Activated charcoal is an absorbing product that can be used for oral hygiene. It absorbs the plaque or other tiny tidbits which can stain your teeth. All you need to do is to dip a wet toothbrush into activated charcoal powder. Then carefully brush your teeth mainly on the areas that have maximum stains. Then sip water, swish your mouth thoroughly and spit. You can use this method 2-3 times weekly for best results. However, please avoid using it if you have crowns, caps or porcelain veneers.
White kaolin clay
In spite of clay being very soft, they have the ability to polish things. In fact, white kaolin clay, is considered to be the best kind of clay because of its ‘Cleaning Efficiency’. It is a mild abrasive but has high proficiency in removing stains.
Salt
Another fundamental cleaning agent that has been incorporated in our dental care routine since age’s is salt. Using salt, you can easily regain the white color as it replenishes the mineral content, which gets lost. Many people use it as a tooth powder in the morning. You can also mix salt with charcoal and brush your teeth on a daily basis. Even the mixture of common salt and baking soda is good for your teeth. However, avoid using it roughly, as it might then damage your gum and tooth enamel.
Flossing
Flossing is probably one of the best ways to clean the area between your teeth. Just wrap a piece of soft string around your fingers and then move it between the teeth to clean it properly. Cleaning the area between your teeth is essential because your tooth brush may not reach that part easily and this helps in removing the bacteria and the plague that may cause other gum diseases. Without flossing, your daily dental care routine remains incomplete. Besides, the practice of flossing lessens the chance of having bad breath. If your toothpaste rubs over the stains, flossing eliminates the disease causing bacteria. So make flossing your daily habit.
Hydrogen peroxide
Germs are one of the main reasons behind unhealthy, yellow teeth. So it is very important to keep your teeth clean. Hydrogen peroxide is an antibacterial agent that helps to get rid of the germs and keep your mouth and gums clean. Besides that, it is also a very good antiseptic agent, which kills bad bacteria, which is the main cause behind bad breath. It also gives natural protection against diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis. A 1.7% hydrogen peroxide gel delivered into periodontal pockets with a sealed prescription tray is the easiest method of treating periodontitis.
Even “Dentistry Network” believes that the prescription tray delivery of hydrogen peroxide is a very effective method of treating dental issues. Another way to use hydrogen peroxide is as a mouthwash before you brush your teeth. Make sure you are using a 1.5% or 3% solution to avoid side effects.
Baking soda
Another popular ingredient that is used to get healthy white teeth is baking soda. Baking soda has natural whitening properties, which is why it is often used in commercial toothpaste. It is a mild abrasive that can help scrub away surface stains on teeth. Baking soda creates an alkaline environment in the mouth that prevents bacteria, the main cause behind dental problems, to grow.
However, it is always better to use toothpastes containing baking soda rather than directly applying plain baking soda. Such toothpastes have been proved more effective in removing yellow stains from the teeth.
Furthermore, a review of five studies found that toothpastes containing baking soda removed plaque from teeth more effectively than non-baking soda toothpastes. For this, you have to mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 2 teaspoon of water and then brush your teeth with the paste.
Eating healthy
As I keep saying, no matter how much ways you try this always remain the best way to remain healthy. Yes there are many foods which help keep the teeth healthy and stain free and also remove signs of aging.
- Yogurt
- Raw milk
- Leafy green vegetables
- Apples or pears
- Cage-free eggs
- Mushrooms
- Sweet potatoes
- Carrots
- Squash
- Celery
- Walnuts or almonds
Now you have the remedies and known how to get healthy white teeth, but that’s not enough.
Dos and don’ts to get healthy white teeth
You have to take extra caution to maintain the proper oral health and hygiene. Listed below are some of the best practices, what is to be done and avoided for proper oral health and to maintain white and healthy teeth.
- The first and foremost thing you must follow is properly brushing your teeth. Literally if you could brush your teeth after every meal or when you drink something, that would be the best. But practically it’s not always possible as it depends on the place you are at that time of eating (example at work or school). So ideally make it a habit to brush your teeth minimum twice- one in the morning and other, after dinner.
- Please avoid smoking. It is not only just for your teeth but actually for your general well-being. You already know how much tobacco is injurious to our health. So there is no point risking your own life as well as those of the passive smokers.
- Limit your coffee or tea intake. I know most people are tea or coffee lovers. But as you already know these beverages lead to staining of teeth. It is not that you have to completely cut it down but at least try to restrict the intake as much as possible. In other words, drink in moderate amounts. You can also use a straw while drinking which will kind of lessen the contact with teeth.
- Avoid wine as much as possible. You already know how much dangerous alcohol is for your health. Besides, it leads to teeth stains. So please try to cut down your alcohol intake.
- Do not forget to drink more plain water every time you eat or drink something staining or acidic. This will help to reduce the negative effects.
- Include foods that are rich in calcium. Tooth discoloration is sometimes caused by enamel eroding away which further exposes your yellow dentin underneath. Therefore, all your efforts to strengthen the enamel will automatically help to keep your teeth white. Calcium-rich foods help protect your teeth from enamel erosion.
- If you want white teeth, try to cut the sugar intake. A diet high in sugar favors the growth of “Streptococcus mutans”bacteria, the primary type of bacteria that causes plaque and gingivitis.
- Avoid using whitening strips and gels. I personally do not recommend them because they often contain chemicals like chlorine dioxide, which is harmful. However if you want to use them, use only after verification or under expert advice.
- Lastly, if you find none of the ways working for you, please do visit a dentist. Yours may be due to some other serious diseases. Hence do not ignore it.
Over to you
Maintaining healthy white teeth and proper oral hygiene is more than essential. But due to various reasons, some of us find it difficult to whiten teeth. There are many commercially available products that claim to whiten teeth. Some of these products may work and some may not work. But if you take my personal opinion, I always prefer natural remedies and products for it is fresh and have no side effect when used carefully.
Today in this post, we have discussed various tips and remedies that can easily help you to get healthy white teeth. You can use simple ingredients like turmeric and coconut oil to make a paste and brush your teeth to get healthy white teeth.
If you are struggling with teeth whitening, you may like to try some of these tricks and I am sure you will be more than happy with the results. With these natural and easy to use methods, you can easily get that bright beautiful smile which you deserve.
But please get rid of any unhealthy habits like smoking and eating junk which is bad for your oral hygiene and health. As you already know, having a healthy lifestyle is the key to happy life. Keep all the precautions in mind.
And one more thing before we conclude, getting healthy white teeth is not an overnight miracle. So if you have that patience and follow these tips, I am sure you will be rewarded with healthy white teeth within a couple of weeks.
Till then, keep smiling and do share with me, which remedy worked best for you?
