It is possible to improve the appearance of your teeth, by whitening them. There are certain teeth whitening offers that people of London can take advantage of at local clinics. But even with such offers, some may not be able to afford professional teeth whitening. So they might be in the search of DIY jobs to whiten their teeth. And in that regard, two options are available. The first is using commercial teeth whitening products that are meant for home use. And the second is using natural remedies that are said to be effective at whitening teeth.
Some people hesitate from using commercial teeth whitening products that are meant for home use. That is mainly because they are wary of the side effects associated with such products. And this then leads to lots of interest in the natural remedies that can whiten teeth.
In this article, we outline 6 simple methods you can use to make your teeth whiter. First, though, we need to understand why teeth turn yellow.
Why do teeth turn yellow?
In some cases, it is staining as a result of eating certain foods that makes teeth look yellow.
There are other cases in which we find the buildup of plaque making teeth look yellow.
Erosion of enamel can also cause yellowish teeth.
It may be important for you to understand why your teeth have turned yellow (in your specific case). That can help, even if you are planning to visit a teeth whitening clinic in Wimpole Street. Knowing the reason behind the discolouration of your teeth can help in working out how to best whiten them.
The methods you can use to whiten your teeth at home
Below are the 6 methods through which you can whiten your teeth at home – more or less naturally.
1. The oil-pulling method
The oil-pulling practice originated in India. It is said to deeply clean teeth, and ultimately make them look whiter.
The best type of oil to use here is that which comes from coconut. Its taste is tolerable, and it is associated with quite a number of health benefits.
In practical terms, oil pulling entails 3 major steps. In the first step, you measure a tablespoon of coconut oil which is roughly 15 ml. Then in the second step, you put that coconut oil into your mouth. In the third step, you swish the coconut oil throughout your mouth. So that is the process of pushing and pulling it around your teeth. This is something you need to do for 15-20 minutes. Finally, you spit off the coconut oil. (Don’t spit it in a sink, as it can solidify and cause clogging).
Many of us believe that the teeth look whiter after oil pulling. This makes sense, as oil pulling rids of the plaque of teeth. And once that ‘dirt film’ (plaque) is removed from the teeth, they are bound to look whiter. There may also be the possibility of the lauric acid in coconut oil helping to whiten the teeth in a more direct way.
This is one method for teeth whitening that London residents can use without having any safety concerns. That is because there are no harsh chemicals in coconut oil.
2. Brushing the teeth with baking soda
Baking soda is a compound that is undeniably abrasive. This makes it capable of whitening teeth. It simply scrubs off whatever stains happen to be on the surface of the teeth, leaving them whiter. This method takes time, its effect can’t be seen overnight.
3. Making proper use of hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a compound with natural bleaching properties. This means that you can make use of it to attain your teeth whitening goals.
Before brushing your teeth, you can first use a mouthwash made of hydrogen peroxide. This should whiten the teeth, in due course. Just ensure that the hydrogen peroxide used in this case is at a safely low concentration.
You can also mix the hydrogen peroxide with some baking soda, then brush your teeth with it.
Hydrogen peroxide-based cleaning offers decent results most of the time. But it also comes with a few safety concerns.
4. Eating more crunchy fruits and veggies
There are many fruits and veggies that have a crunchy texture. These can help in scrubbing the plaque off your teeth as you eat them. You are then left with teeth that look whiter.
This way of teeth whitening in London works well in case of superficial discolouration. We also have some fruits that contain compounds which can whiten the teeth more directly. Examples are strawberries which contain malic acid, and pineapples which contain bromelain.
5. Preventing tooth stains preemptively
If you can prevent the stains preemptively, you won’t require to whiten the teeth later. So this is a way in which you can avoid having to pay for teeth whitening services in Wimpole Street.
One of the ways to prevent staining of teeth is by ensuring that you minimize the intake of foods that tend to discolour teeth.
Another effective strategy is minimizing sugar intake. Getting adequate dietary calcium can also help here.
6. Taking the brushing and flossing of teeth seriously
If you don’t follow proper oral hygiene, your teeth may eventually get discoloured. You, therefore, need to ensure regular teeth brushing and flossing. Dentists recommend brushing your teeth twice a day and each teeth brushing session to be around 2 minutes long at least. Be selective with a proper toothbrush and toothpaste as they play a key role in the entire process.
At the same time, you should not skip flossing your teeth even for a day. Simple, Isn’t it?
Further (but unproven) methods to whiten the teeth at home
- Using activated charcoal
- Using kaolin clay
- By rubbing the teeth with peels of certain fruits (such as oranges, bananas and lemons)
If you want faster and more noticeable teeth whitening results, you can arrange a visit to a Wimpole Dental Office.