Whether your smile needs a little perking up or you’ve got a special event soon and you’d like to look your best, it’s possible to give your teeth a whitening treatment at home! While nothing beats professional dental whitening for long-lasting results, there are some simple at-home whitening tricks you can do yourself.
Brighten and Lighten Paste
If you’ve ever wanted to try an at-home science experiment, now’s your chance! With simple ingredients you can find at the grocery store, you can create whitening toothpaste to help your smile gleam.
Baking soda is the main ingredient but don’t use too much. Combine one tablespoon of baking soda with two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide or two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to create a paste. Stir the ingredients together to make a paste; making sure it isn’t too gritty. Brush your teeth with the paste, just like you would with any other toothpaste.
Be sure to only use this homemade recipe two or three times each week. Overuse of baking soda can break down the enamel on your teeth and cause sensitivity.
Peel Away Stains
Did you know that the inside of a banana peel is loaded in potassium, magnesium, manganese, and other minerals? These minerals can actually be absorbed into the enamel of your teeth and help them get whiter!
Following your normal brush and floss routine, peel a ripe banana and rub a piece on your teeth (inside and outside) for a couple of minutes. Rinse your mouth and do it again before bed. While it may seem like an odd practice, the enamel on your teeth will thank you for directly providing these valuable minerals!
Tropical Treatment with Coconut Oil Pulling
Oil pulling, or the swishing of an edible oil like coconut oil around inside your mouth, is an ancient Ayurvedic holistic practice that some believe can help whiten teeth. While research is definitely inconclusive on this method, it’s safe to try with coconut oil and peppermint leaf (to make it tasty)!
Coconut oil comes in a soft paste or liquid and is available from natural or specialty food stores and some pharmacies. Mix about a tablespoon of coconut oil with a pinch of mashed peppermint leaves. Put the paste in your mouth and allow it to soften. For about 15 minutes (yes, minutes), swish the paste around inside your mouth making sure you really get it around all of your teeth. Spit out, rinse with water and brush your teeth.
If you are interested in professional whitening services, contact us! While there are fun and unique methods you can try at home, you can’t beat the beautiful results of our teeth whitening treatment!
