Teeth whitening is an easy way to improve your smile and your confidence. The process works by gently removing stains on your teeth, which causes them to look whiter. Perform the process of teeth whitening at home with a few simple steps.
Step 1: Brush your teeth well and floss once a day. This will help remove any food particles that may cause discoloration on the surface of your teeth.
Step 2: Rinse off with warm salt water after eating or drinking anything acidic, such as coffee or wine. This will also help remove stains on your teeth as well as clean them thoroughly.
From toothpaste to mouthwash, there are a lot of options out there for teeth whitening at home. But what’s the best way to do it at home?
We asked Dr. Alan Avram, DDS, for his opinion on the best ways to get your pearly whites looking brighter and whiter. He says: “The key is to do it when you’re not eating or drinking anything that could stain your teeth.”
For those who are hesitant about trying teeth whitening at home, he recommends visiting their dentist for professional teeth-whitening treatment. However, he adds that you can still get some of the same benefits by doing it at home using one of these simple methods.
What Causes Teeth to Look Yellow?
A permanent yellowing of the teeth is a condition known as “tooth yellowness.” Yellowing can occur because of a number of causes, including
#1 Genetics
Your genes may cause your teeth to turn yellow over time. If you have a family member who has a similar condition, you may be more likely to develop it yourself. Some people have genes that cause them to have discolored teeth. This condition is called dentinogenesis imperfect, or DI.
#2 Wear
Tooth wear can cause the outer layer of your tooth (enamel) to become translucent and thus appear yellow. This is most likely cause by things like poor brushing habits and eating sugary foods that stain the teeth.
#3 Dentin
Dentin is the mineralized portion of your tooth tissue that contains minerals such as calcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, and fluoride. Dentin is what causes tooth coloration when it breaks down under acidic conditions — for example, when you eat a meal with too much acidity or if you brush with an abrasive brush that wears down your enamel faster than normal due to poor brushing habits.
#4 Antibiotics
Antibiotics kill off the harmful bacteria in our body, but also destroy the good bacteria, which helps in maintaining a healthy mouth environment. If you have ever taken antibiotics for long periods of time, then you may notice that after some time, your teeth turn brownish-yellow or even darker than usual.
#5 Food
The most common cause of yellowing teeth is food that has been left in your mouth for too long. Eating too much sugary or starchy food can stain your teeth and make them yellower than they should be. This may be due to an increase in the production of carotenoids (a type of compound) within the body that produces yellowness in the teeth after eating certain foods. If you want to correct this problem, try rinsing with water after meals and avoiding foods with lots of sugar for a few weeks until your staining fades away naturally.
#6 Accident
Another reason why your teeth might be discolored is that they were damaged during an accident or fall. The trauma caused by this accident could break down some of the enamel on your teeth and expose it to air or other fluids present in your mouth. As a result, it becomes discolored and develops stains or spots over time.
#7 Drinks
Coffee, tea, and cola contain acids that change the color of your teeth. If you drink these drinks with meals, they can stain your teeth easily. This is because these drinks are acidic in nature. To get rid of these stains, rinse your mouth with water immediately after finishing your meal.
#8 Grinding
If you grind dry fruits like nuts or seeds on a regular basis on an empty stomach, then it may cause stains on your teeth as well as other oral tissues like lips and tongue.
#9 Smoking
Smoking is a major factor in the formation of yellow teeth. Smoking causes yellowing due to the nicotine stains on the teeth. The nicotine stains are dark in color and they can be removed by brushing your teeth with a whitening toothpaste.
#10 Fluorosis
The color of the teeth is also determined by the amount of fluoride in the water and the diet. In addition to natural processes such as tooth decay, sores, or other dental problems that can cause spots or stains on your teeth, these factors may also cause yellowing.
Follow these 6 Simple Ways for Teeth Whitening at Home
If you have stained or yellowed teeth, you can turn them white again. Here are some simple tips for teeth whitening at home:
#1 Practice Oil Pulling
In an Indian tradition, oil pulling is a home remedy for white teeth. Oil pulling is a simple way to whiten your teeth. It’s quite effective and easy to do. Just pour some coconut oil into your mouth and swish it around for a few minutes, then spit it out. Coconut oil helps remove stains from the surface of your teeth while also removing toxins that are stored in your body. This method can also help relieve inflammation and plaque build-up in your gums and increase saliva production, so you can keep your mouth clean.
#2 Brush with Baking Soda
Baking soda is a natural tooth whitener and a perfect home remedy for white teeth because it acts as an abrasive and reduces the appearance of plaque on teeth. To brush with it, mix 1/2 teaspoon baking soda with 1/2 teaspoon water and dip a toothbrush in it for 20 seconds. Brush thoroughly for two minutes after every meal or at least twice daily to keep plaque at bay. If you have sensitive teeth, use only 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda per brushing instead of mixing them together; otherwise, the abrasive will make your gums bleed!
#3 Use Hydrogen Peroxide
By killing bacteria in your mouth, hydrogen peroxide acts as a natural bleaching agent and a great home remedy for white teeth.
Due to its ability to kill bacteria, hydrogen peroxide has been used for years to disinfect wounds. A lot of commercial whitening products contain hydrogen peroxide, but the concentration is much higher than what you’d use at home.
Researchers found that toothpaste containing more hydrogen peroxide was more effective at whitening teeth after 12 weeks than toothpaste with less hydrogen peroxide.
An additional study found that hydrogen peroxide toothpaste was more effective than charcoal-containing and abrasive toothpaste in reducing abrasive toothpaste — at reducing tooth discoloration caused by coffee.
#4 Eat Fruits and Vegetables
This one’s pretty obvious, but it’s worth mentioning as the whitening of teeth home remedies because most people don’t follow through with their daily diet. Fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants that help your body fight free radicals and keep your mouth healthy, which will ultimately help you get whiter teeth. They also contain essential nutrients that help keep your gums healthy.
#5 Prevent Tooth Stains Before they Happen
You may think that you have no control over whether or not you get a cavity, but the truth is that there are things you can do to prevent stains from forming in the first place — including brushing twice a day and flossing regularly (preferably after every meal). A bleached toothbrush can also help prevent stains by keeping plaque at bay while you brush.
Celebrities have made whitening your teeth with strawberries and baking soda popular. Supporters of this approach claim that the malic acid found in strawberries will remove discoloration on your teeth, while the baking soda will polish away stains. Some claim that pineapple reduces discoloration, too.
#6 Don’t Underestimate the Value of Brushing and Flossing
While some discolorations form with age, and some result from plaque buildup. Hence, everyday brushing and flossing your teeth can help you to keep them white while reducing bacteria in your mouth and preventing plaque buildup.
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