Natural Teeth Whitening
There is a good deal of information on "natural teeth whitening" out there. Some of these teeth whitening home remedies are downright dangerous to your teeth while others may be worth your time. The most common of these home remedies are detailed below.
Lemon Juice
Brushing teeth with lemon juice, or rubbing the peel across the teeth, is one of the most frequently mentioned ways to whiten teeth naturally. Unfortunately, it is also one of the worst.
Strawberries
Another fruity remedy (forgive the awful pun), involves mashing strawberries into a pasty pulp and brushing your teeth with them. This tastes nice, but may be almost as harmful as lemon juice for the same reasons. Strawberries also contain acid, and the seeds can damage your gums or even your teeth if you brush too hard. If you do chose to use strawberries for teeth whitening, be sure to brush your teeth or rinse your mouth shortly afterwards.
Crunchy Vegetables
Vegetables such as celery, carrots, broccoli, and cucumbers are naturally abrasive and act like little toothbrushes that scrub away stains.
Wood Ash (Lye)
The potassium hydroxide found in hardwood ash is a bleaching agent and will whiten teeth. A popular home remedy is brushing with the wood ash on a regular basis. Potassium will harm the enamel in your teeth over time and this has to taste awful. It's best to stay away from this one.
Baking Soda
The process of brushing teeth with a baking soda and salt mixture has been around for a long time, and for good reason. It can actually be effective in removing stains, especially with the help of peroxide. Baking soda will also help to kill bacteria which causes plaque, and reduce acids which can harm tooth enamel.
Baking soda is safe to use and easily obtained. If you do use a baking soda mixture, brush gently around your gums so you don't irritate them.
Peroxide
Gargling with peroxide is said to whiten teeth. This is true to some extent, but keep in mind that over-the-counter peroxide is not nearly as concentrated as the peroxide found in effective teeth whiteners.
The popular peroxide remedy has you brush your teeth normally, swish peroxide around your teeth, and then rinse with water. This is safe, however it may irritate the gums and cause tooth sensitivity over time.
Baking Soda & Peroxide Combined
This may be one of the best home remedies for teeth whitening and regular tooth maintenance. Dr. Paul Keyes, founder of the International Dental Health Foundation, has a mixture which many people seem to find helpful. You can find it Here. The mixture recipe is located at the bottom of the page.
