Whiten Teeth with Natural Methods

After years of eating acidic and discoloring foods, most people will experience yellowing teeth at some point in their lives. Professional whitening treatments, however, are very expensive. There are several methods you can try to whiten your teeth at home with inexpensive materials.

Steps

Whitening Your Teeth With Home-Made Toothpaste

1. Purchase baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Both items can be found at local pharmacies and supermarkets.
   • Make sure that the peroxide you buy is a 3% solution. Anything stronger is not safe for use in your mouth. Read the label to confirm that the peroxide concentration is safe for use in the mouth. If you're unsure at all, consult the pharmacist.
   • These two ingredients, while safe for use in the mouth, are potentially abrasive and can erode your tooth enamel over time. To prevent this, be sure to use this method no more than two times per week and brush very gently when you do.
   • Since baking soda is an aggressive whitener, you will probably see results after your first few uses.
2. Mix up a solution of baking soda and peroxide. Add 1 teaspoon of each ingredient to a cup, then stir the mixture until it becomes a paste.
3. Dip a toothbrush into the mixture. Make sure you use a separate toothbrush from the one you normally use to brush your teeth.
   • Use a new toothbrush with soft bristles.
4. Brush your teeth with the paste. Use gentle, circular motions. Brushing too hard can cause a receding gum line.
5. Rinse your mouth with water and spit. Make sure you don't swallow this mixture.
6. Brush your teeth normally. Using a separate toothbrush, brush with a fluoride toothpaste.
7. Repeat this only a few times a week. This mixture is too harsh to use every day, as it can damage your teeth and gums. Don't use it more than two times a week.

Whitening Your Teeth With Activated Charcoal

1. Buy activated charcoal. Activated charcoal is different from common barbecue charcoal in that it is specifically meant for use as a medicine. It works by absorbing chemicals, and as such is often used as a remedy for intestinal gas or acid. Since it works by absorbing toxins and chemicals, it also draws stains off your teeth.
   • You can find activated charcoal at some drug stores and natural health stores. It is also available for purchase online.
   • It is better to get activated charcoal in powder form rather than tablets. Not only will this give you more charcoal for the price, but it will be easier to rub on your teeth.
   • Since charcoal actively pulls off stains, you can see results within just a few uses. After a few weeks, the results should be easily noticeable.
   • In addition, activated charcoal is a good pH neutralizer and reduces the acids found in the mouth, preventing cavities.
2. Dip a clean, wet toothbrush into the powdered charcoal. Get a good coating of charcoal over the toothbrush — you'll need enough to cover all of your teeth.
   • It may help to pour a small amount into a cup. This way you can avoid getting water in the main bottle of charcoal.
   • Make sure to use a separate toothbrush for brushing normally and brushing with charcoal. Use a new brush with soft bristles.
3. Rub your teeth in a circular motion. Make sure to use gentle motions Keep this up for about two minutes.
4. Spit out the charcoal. This may be a little difficult, since your mouth may be dry. Just try to accumulate as much saliva as you can to spit.
   • Don't be alarmed at the way your mouth looks. Before you rinse, it'll be all black from the charcoal. Don't worry — it will rinse off.
5. Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. You may need to do this a few times to completely wash away the charcoal. Be sure to swish the water around to remove any remaining charcoal in your mouth.
   • It is considered safe to swallow this water with the charcoal in it once in a while or in small amounts; however, you shouldn't swallow any charcoal within an hour of taking oral medications. Since charcoal absorbs chemicals, it can absorb any medicine that is in your stomach and lessen its effectiveness.
6. Brush your teeth normally. This will clean your mouth, freshen your breath, and remove any leftover charcoal on your teeth.

Whitening Your Teeth With Strawberry Paste

1. Gather some large strawberries. The vitamin C in strawberries can help break down plaque, and the malic acid in them can remove surface stains.
   • You will need one to three large strawberries for this method.
   • If you're purchasing strawberries, look for berries with a uniform red color over the entire surface. Any white or green indicates that the berry is not ripe yet.
   • This is a slower method that will probably take a few weeks to show significant results.
2. Mash the strawberries into a paste. You can also add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. Baking soda will help this mixture whiten your teeth better. This is optional, however, and you can just use the strawberry paste if you want.
3. Dip a new toothbrush into this mixture and apply it to your teeth. Be sure to use a different toothbrush from the one you regularly brush your teeth with.
   • The point isn't to brush your teeth with this mixture, but just to apply it to the teeth.
   • Allow the mixture to sit on your teeth for five minutes.
4. Rinse your mouth thoroughly. Have a glass of water handy and rinse the mixture off your teeth.
5. Brush your teeth normally. You will probably have to brush more thoroughly than usual, since the strawberry remains may take some scrubbing to get off fully.
   • If you don't floss regularly, you should do so after using this treatment. Strawberries have very small seeds that can get caught between your teeth.
6. Repeat this treatment nightly. Remember that it may take a few weeks to see results.

Whitening Your Teeth With Orange Peels

1. Take a large orange. The white part of the orange skin between the surface and the meat of the fruit contains d-limonene. This can help remove stains from your teeth.
   • It will take about two to three weeks of daily usage to notice results from this method.
2. Peel the orange. Remember the white part of the peel contains the chemical you need, so make sure you get enough of this section when you peel the orange.
3. Rub the white part of the peel all over your teeth. Let the juice sit on your teeth for three to five minutes.
4. Brush your teeth normally. Be sure to get off any pulp or orange peel off your teeth. Floss as well, as the skin can get stuck between your teeth.
5. Repeat this daily. You will have to repeat this method regularly for a few weeks to see noticeable results.

Whitening Teeth With a Banana Peel

1. Take a ripe banana. High amounts of potassium, magnesium, and manganese in bananas can help remove stains from teeth. Make sure the banana is yellow all over to ensure that it is ripe.
   • This method will also take two to three weeks before you see noticeable results.
2. Peel the banana. You will only need a few small sections of the peel, so cut a few away after you peel the banana.
3. Rub your teeth with the inside of the peel. Spend about two minutes rubbing the peels all over your teeth. After that, let the juices sit on your teeth for 15 minutes.
4. Brush your teeth normally. Use your usual fluoride toothpaste and brush as you normally would. Be sure to remove any solid pieces of the banana if they've gotten stuck in your teeth.
5. Repeat this two or three times a week. Don't use this treatment more often than that, or the acids from the banana could damage your teeth.

Tips

• Stay away from tobacco products to keep your teeth whiter.
• To ensure that your whitening methods continue working, avoid foods that can stain your teeth like black coffee or dark sauces. If you do eat these foods, brush your teeth after.

Warnings

• Do not overuse these methods. Excessive use can break down the enamel on your teeth and cause permanent damage.
• These methods are not meant to replace brushing your teeth. Always continue brushing normally every day.
• Always consult a dentist before using these methods to avoid damaging your teeth.

Related Articles

• Keep Your Children Brushing Their Teeth
• Whiten Teeth With Baking Soda
• Whiten Your Teeth Without Spending a Lot of Money
• Brush Teeth Without Toothpaste
• Choose the Right Chewing Gum

Sources and Citations

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• Get Whiter Teeth at Home

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