3 Natural Ways to Whiten Teeth at Home

From teenagers to baby boomers, everyone wants to have whiter smile. Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, and a flawlessly bright smile indicates health, vigor and of course, beauty. With each decade that we age, our teeth can get up to 1 to 2 shades darker. The color pigments inside teeth become more prominent as the dentin structure below the enamel grows. Consider the enamel to be like translucent glass, with the dentin structure shining through underneath, giving us our tooth color.

Baking Soda and Lemon Juice : You will need… -Several teaspoons of baking soda -Enough lemon juice or water to form a paste -A toothbrush Directions Mix several teaspoons of baking soda with enough fresh lemon juice (or water) to make a paste. Wipe your teeth and any extra saliva off of them with a paper towel. Put a good amount of paste onto your toothbrush and apply. Leave the paste on for 1 minute, then rinse, so as to avoid the acid effecting enamel. If you are using just water you can leave it on for up to 3 minutes.

Strawberry, Salt and Baking Soda: You will need… -1-3 large strawberries -A pinch of seat salt -1/2 teaspoon of baking soda (optional) Directions Mash the berries into a pulp, and add a pinch of sea salt and ½ teaspoon of baking soda, if you’re using it. Wipe any extra saliva off your teeth with a paper towel, and then apply a generous portion of the mixture to a toothbrush and apply. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes, then rinse. Do this nightly.

Coconut Oil Rinse: You will need… -About a tablespoon of coconut oil Directions In the morning, before you brush your teeth, scoop out a tablespoon or a little less (depending on the size of your mouth) of coconut oil. You can either soften it, or just put it in your mouth (I usually do the latter, and just let it soften.) Push, swish, and “pull” the oil through and around your teeth for 10-15 minutes, then spit it out, rinse with water, and brush your teeth.