It so happens that a friend tags you in a photo and when you look closer, you realise your teeth aren’t as pearly white as you remember them. Sure, you have been downing a lot more coffee than usual but that is just an excuse! So, before you rush to your dentists’ office (and spend a bomb), here’s something you need to know: our lifestyle habits in combination with irregular care can cause staining – meaning less shinier teeth. Worry not, ‘coz we’re here with a few DIY teeth whitening remedies to help you get that dazzling, white smile back.
1. Baking Soda
One of the most commonly used ingredients at home, baking soda is an excellent teeth-whitener. Mix one tablespoon of baking soda and add three drops of hydrogen peroxide (be precise with the measurements). Apply it on your teeth with a q-tip or a clean finger, keep it on for 30 seconds and rinse.
Also Read Home Remedies To Deal With Yellow Teeth In Marathi
2. Lemon Juice
Take a quarter cup of baking soda and half a lemon and squeeze some lemon juice off it. Mix well and head straight to the restroom. Stand in front of the mirror and apply with a bud on all of your teeth. Leave it on for a minute and rinse.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
Mix 1 tablespoon of virgin olive oil with a few drops of apple cider vinegar. Now soak your toothbrush in this mixture and rub gently over your teeth. Make sure you get the measurements right and are not allergic to apple cider vinegar since the acidic reaction from this concoction is what will potentially brighten your teeth.
4. Coconut Oil
Yes, it not only work wonders on your locks, but also can brighten your teeth. You can use unrefined coconut oil or virgin coconut oil. Put a pea-sized amount on your toothbrush and brush thoroughly for a few minutes. Using it topically brightens your teeth and also gives you healthier gums.
5. Do Your Bit Every Day
Caffeine and nicotine are the biggest stain-causing culprits that are a daily part of our lifestyles. Cut down their yellow effects, start off by using a straw every time you sip on your fave Starbucks beverage – the lesser contact with the caffeine directly with your teeth, the better. On days you feel you have upped your smokes, rinse your mouth immediately after to avoid excessive staining.
6. Magic Fruits and Nuts
Load up on fruits like strawberries, apples, carrots and celery: they are organic teeth-stain removers, and are great for health. In fact, make sure you eat your bit of crunchy nuts like almonds and walnuts because crunchy foods help take away a lot of the glucose formed in the mouth (thanks caffeine) and other chemicals that can cause stains.
7. Activated Charcoal
A lot of people prefer to use activated charcoal to whiten teeth gradually. Easily available at chemists’, you just have to dip your wet toothbrush in the powder and brush your teeth. Make sure you rinse well (it’s a bit messy, thanks to its colour) and you’re done! You can do this for a couple weeks since it soaks up all the stain-causing tannins, leaving you with whiter teeth.
8. Try A Whitening Toothpaste
Teeth whitening strips are available at many pharmacies and can prove to be reliable. In fact, a lot of dental brands are tapping into our habits and have come up with whitening toothpastes. Close Up Diamond Attraction Toothpaste, Rs 170, promises to use bluelight technology to protect your teeth from staining. Even Colgate Visible White, Rs 140, has whitening accelerators that promise to brighten your smile in a week with consistent usage.
MUST-READ: #Embarrassing: 10 Tips To Banish Bad Breath
MUST-READ: 7 Toothbrushing Mistakes You Could Be Making
