More and more people are desperate for a white and bright smile, but teeth whitening though has become more financially accessible in recent years is still a luxury for some. So, can you whiten your teeth at home? Are the over-the-counter products worth it? And is it safe? Let's take a look.
Why Do Teeth Discolour?
There are multiple reasons people’s teeth can begin to discolour no more so that the things you eat and drink. Certain foods do begin to cause staining on your tooth's enamel along with build-up of tartar and plaque. Food with high levels of tannins such as: tea, coffee, red wine, curry, berries and fruit - all cause staining to the tooth top layer of enamel. This staining can in most cases be fixed with good brushing, a polish and over counter whitening treatments. However, if the teeth look really yellow it could be that the staining has reached the hard enamel which is a bony like tissue that sits underneath the top layer.
Three Ways to Whiten Your Teeth at Home
1: OIL PULLING - This is a traditional Indian method which is used to not only improve tooth colour appearance but also removes bacteria from the mouth which can turn to plaque and also helps to take away toxins. Coconut oil is commonly used for the treatment, but you can use other types of oils if you so wish. To achieve results you should put one tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and spread the oil over your teeth. You do this process for between fifteen to twenty minutes and make sure to remove any excess into the trash and not down the sink. This method of whitening is excellent as it doesn’t expose the teeth to any toxins or acids.
2: BAKING SODA - Believe it or not baking soda actually has natural whitening ingredients and is used in many popular whitening toothpastes. As it has mild levels of abrasion it can take away the surface stains on teeth. Another benefit is that it alkalines the mouth too which can help stop the development of bacteria. This method will not work straight away but you should begin to notice a change if used regularly over the course of several weeks. For this mix 1 tsp of baking soda with 2 teaspoons of water and use this after you’ve brushed your teeth as a second toothbrush.
3: HYDROGEN PEROXIDE - This is again a natural substance that bleaches teeth alongside killing bacteria. Lots of the products bought through dentists do contain Hydrogen Peroxide but there hasn’t been much research into the use of Hydrogen Peroxide on its own. To use mix 2 tsp’s of Hydrogen Peroxide with 1 tsp of baking soda and then lightly brush with the mixture. Contact a denstist before trying this method since there may be risks involved. You could search dentist in Fulham (or wherever you're from) to find a good local dentist.
PROFESSIONAL WHITENING
If, however you are thinking about professional whitening, speak with your dentist to get full details of all the options available.
