10 Home Remedies for Teeth Whitening

Yellow or stained teeth can really offset your beauty. So, if you are facing this problem, here are 10 home remedies that will help you to whiten your teeth. Remember that these are not miracle solutions and they take time. So, be patient!

1. The Sesame Oil Gargle

Take a tablespoon of sesame oil in your mouth and don’t swallow it. Now gargle thoroughly using the oil for 10-15 minutes. Yes, it is difficult and your jaws can get exhausted and hurt. You can take rest for a few seconds (30 may be) and resume gargling. As you do this, the oil becomes less viscous and thin and it turns a little whitish than what it was before you started gargling. Spit the oil out and flush your mouth properly with warm water. Do this daily after you brush your teeth in the morning. It is safe and effectively whitens your teeth within a few months. This method is called Oil Pulling and instead of sesame oil, you can use coconut oil or olive oil.

2. Dark Chocolates

Yummy, right? Dark chocolates have a substance called theobromine. This hardens the tooth enamel and prevents quick discoloration due to high-staining food. It is more of a preventive measure than a curative measure.

3. The Ugly Carrots

Though ugly, a carrot is good for eyes and helps in teeth whitening. It is fibrous by nature and cleans the tooth surface and prevents plaque formation. This slowly whitens your teeth. Chew properly washed and cleaned raw carrots every day and you can see a significantly change in your teeth color over time.

4. Banana Skin

Take a ripe banana and skin it! Take a small piece of the skin and rub the inner white part of the skin on your teeth for 10-15 minutes and then brush your teeth. The skin of the banana contains bromine and potassium and these elements naturally whiten your teeth. Though there is no hardcore scientific documentation for this but real users do support this method as an effective method.

5. The Strawberries

My favorite – strawberries have malic acid. It is an enzyme that cleans your teeth naturally. You can make a paste of strawberries and baking powder and apply on your teeth for same result but eating the strawberries is more appealing.

6. Olive Oil and Your Regular Paste

Squeeze out the amount of paste you use for brushing your teeth and mix it well with olive oil and take the resulting paste for brushing your teeth. It will taste funny but it is effective. Use regularly and you can see a significant difference in a couple of weeks.

7. Apple Cider Vinegar

This is a stain remover. Use it to gargle once every day. It will remove stain, kill bacteria and keep your gums healthy. It is acidic in nature so, don’t over use. Once a day is just enough. Also Read “Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar” here.

8. Lemon Juice with Baking Powder

Make a paste of some baking powder and juice from fresh lemon. Mix well to form a paste and apply it on your teeth using your index finger or a cotton ball. Leave it that way for no more than 1 minute and then brush off your teeth with your regular paste properly. Lemon is acidic and can make your teeth sensitive. Over using it can also destroy teeth enamel.

9. Charcoal

It is charcoal and not coal! Charcoal obtained from hardwood contains high concentration of potassium hydroxide known as lye. It also contains activated carbon. Both of them together can whiten your teeth quickly but potassium hydroxide in particular is abrasive in nature and excessive use of charcoal can damage your teeth over time. So, once a week application is enough.

10. Eye Makeup Remover Pad and Olive Oil

Be warned! There is no scientific evidence available for this method and some may even consider it to be an unhealthy practice. Put a few drops of olive oil on your eye makeup remover pad and gently rub your teeth with it. Avoid gum contact. Keeping rubbing for some 5-10 minutes and you can see a significant difference. 2-3 applications can make a lot of difference. It has worked for many people but may not work for you.

As the name suggests, ‘home remedies’ are DIY methods and they do not have much of scientific proof or documentation. A method that works for others may not work for you. If you have any doubt or if you have serious dental health problems, consult your dentist before using any of these methods.

Also Read- 12 Superfoods that Make Your Teeth Healthy here