Ten Teeth Whitening Home Remedies
Now days, many people are interested in getting a white smile. But in order to achieve that white smile, do you have to see a dentist? Although it is known that professional teeth whitening does provide many with the results they desire, there are some at-home options that might work well for you, too. At Lincoln Family Dentistry, we’re all about easy and that’s why we’re here providing you with some tips and tricks that might help give your smile a boost. In our article we’ll cover:
– How can I make my teeth whiter naturally? We’ll explain what might work for you!
– Will brushing my teeth with hydrogen peroxide make them whiter? Peroxide can be effective.
– Can eating apples make your teeth whiter? Besides being healthy, fresh fruits and veggies do have other benefits!
We all want to love our smile, and one of the easiest ways to do that is having in office teeth whitening to get beautiful white teeth! Unfortunately, it’s not always as easy as it sounds; there may be financial barriers that stand in the way of receiving in office professional teeth whitening at your dentist, but don’t let that discourage you! Below are some remedies for the teeth whitening at home.
Drink Water
The first teeth whitening home remedy is to drink water. Your body is comprised of an incredible amount of water; 95% to be precise! Because of this, you can see why it would be important to constantly replenish your body with water throughout the day. Your oral health is important for your overall systemic health, each affect the other, so it is important to take care of your body in order to have a healthy smile and vise versa. Water can keep your mouth moist and wash away foods and sugars that are consumed during your day preventing them from sitting on the teeth for too long which can cause damage and discoloration. When bacteria sits on the teeth it leads to discoloration. One way to achieve fabulous results with teeth whitening at home is to stay hydrated.
Avoid Tea, Coffee and Soda
Another excellent teeth whitening at home remedy may not be the favorite as unfortunately, sometimes it is the things that we love most that can be the most detrimental to our health or our smile. Soda contains sugars and acids that can break down the enamel of your teeth causing more damage than just yellowing. Even diet soda contains damaging acid even though it lacks the sugars of regular soda. Tea and coffee are better, but can cause severe discoloration or yellowing of the teeth. Some experience yellowing, while others may experience brown streaking. While it would be easy to say to avoid them completely, many of us need these drinks to make it through the day! Instead, at the very least, limit your intake, or drink them through a straw to help bypass direct contact with your pearly whites.
Avoid Red Wine
Just like coffee and tea, the dark wine gets deep into the tooth enamel, causing discoloration. While it may not be quite as proper to drink through a straw (unless you’re at home), limiting your intake can help keep your smile whiter.
Eat Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Daily
Yet another teeth whitening at home remedy should be as simple as what you choose for a snack. Not only can an apple a day keep the doctor away, but apples and pears can be beneficial to your oral health and the whiteness of your smile as well. Foods like these that help your body produce more saliva can help cleanse bacteria and stains from your teeth.
Rinse with Hydrogen Peroxide
As mentioned in a previous post, hydrogen peroxide is a component in many over the counter teeth whitening agents. It can be diluted and used like a mouth rinse to help whiten teeth. This result has proven effective for many, but it usually takes a bit longer to see results than other teeth whitening solutions.
Avoid Eating Dark Fruits Regularly
Dark fruits can have the same effect on the whiteness of teeth as red wine. Berries especially blackberries, cranberries, and blueberries can all have a staining effect on the teeth if consumed in large quantities on a regular basis. They are good for your overall health though, so we do not recommend omitting them from your diet completely.
Quit Using Tobacco Products
It is no secret that tobacco products are very bad for your overall health causing lung damage, cancer, and a host of other issues, but they are also very bad for your oral health and the whiteness of your smile. Tobacco products can lead to periodontal disease, tooth loss, and oral cancer, making teeth whitening the last thing on your mind. On a more minor scale, tobacco products are one of the biggest factors to yellowing and discolored teeth. If you use tobacco products and really want a beautiful white smile, a great teeth whitening at home remedy is to quit using tobacco.
Try Over-The Counter Whitening Products
While many patients have good results with over the counter teeth whitening products like whitening strips, they can also cause sensitivity. If you think this would be a good option for you, make sure that you don’t already have sensitive teeth and that you wipe off any gel that may come in contact with your gum tissue.
Professional Whitening Options
If you cannot afford in office professional teeth whitening, Lincoln Family Dentistry offers a take home solution! Custom trays are made just for you, fitting your teeth perfectly. We send you home with the trays and professional level teeth whitening gel. This is a better solution, especially for patients with sensitive teeth, because the custom trays fit you specifically helping prevent the teeth whitening gel from getting on your gum tissue. The professional level solution also has barriers in it that help protect against sensitivity.
Try Oil-Pulling
Oil pulling is another solution for at home teeth whitening. Not only is oil pulling show to “pull” the bacteria off of your teeth making for a healthier mouth, but many also state that their teeth are whiter as a result!
While in office professional teeth whitening is a great, fast solution to achieve a beautiful, white smile, these options for teeth whitening at home will hopefully help those who are unable or choose not to have in office teeth whitening done. The fabulous part is that many of these not only help with teeth whitening or keeping your smile whiter, but they also have benefits for your overall health!
Wishing you health and happiness,
Your Lincoln NE dentist
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I whiten my teeth at home? Your Lincoln NE dentist answers:
Teeth whitening at home is possible by practicing good oral hygiene by brushing twice a day and flossing once a day. By avoiding eating and drinking dark-colored foods and beverages, you can avoid causing more staining to occur. Occasionally rinsing with diluted hydrogen peroxide or using over-the-counter whitening systems offers more noticeable results.
What is the most effective way to whiten teeth? Your Lincoln NE dentist answers:
For the most noticeable results, professional whitening is going to be the number one option. Professional whitening gels contain stronger concentrations of bleaching agents that give faster and more noticeable results.
What can you use to whiten your teeth at home? Your Lincoln NE dentist answers:
You can achieve great results with teeth whitening at home by using over-the-counter whitening systems such as Crest White Strips. You can also use a professional at-home whitening system from your dentist. Avoid using fruit and baking soda combinations you may see posted on the internet. Using acidic foods to lighten your teeth causes damage to the enamel of the teeth. Unfortunately, this can lead to tooth decay.
How can I instantly whiten my teeth? Your Lincoln NE dentist answers:
The most noticeable and instant results for whitening are from in-office whitening. In-office whitening can be done at your dental office. A high concentration of bleaching agent is applied to your teeth up to three times. In some cases, patients who have a lot of surface staining, from drinking coffee or smoking, may notice a big difference after a professional cleaning. Often, surface stains that you can’t remove by brushing, are easily removed during your cleaning.
How do I permanently get rid of yellow teeth? Your Lincoln NE dentist answers:
Tooth discoloration can be due to excessive consumption of foods and drinks that are dark in color. Exposure to certain medications during tooth development and trauma can also cause tooth discoloration. Depending upon the results you desire, it might be possible to whiten your teeth professionally to reach the color you desire. Whitening is not a permanent treatment. Occasionally, you may need to touch up your smile to keep it bright. For some patients, something more permanent to change the color of their teeth, like veneers or crowns, might be necessary to help them achieve the look they want. The good news is veneers and crowns do not change color over time.
Do salt and toothpaste work for whitening teeth? Your Lincoln NE dentist answers:
Generally, regularly using something as abrasive as salt or baking soda with toothpaste is not a great idea for teeth. It can cause abrasion of the root surfaces of teeth and increase sensitivity to cold. Occasionally brushing with a small amount of baking soda may help to remove coffee stains on the outer part of the teeth. But, it will not bleach teeth. Having good oral hygiene, seeing your hygienist regularly for professional cleanings and avoiding drinking or eating dark foods will help to keep your teeth bright. If you wish to lighten your teeth, try over-the-counter whitening kits. If you prefer professional whitening, talk to your dentist.
Is it possible to lighten my teeth by brushing? Your Lincoln NE dentist answers:
Regularly brushing your teeth to avoid buildup up tartar and stains from foods will help keep your teeth bright. It is not possible to change the shade. If, however, you feel at home whitening isn’t working for you, be sure to ask your dentist about professional whitening. Teeth whitening is one of the many cosmetic services we offer. Lincoln Family Dentistry believes in offering affordable dental services, so you can have the smile you deserve!
The information on this page was written by Dr. Jon Isaacson.
This gentle Lincoln, NE dentists says: “I saw a lot of different dental specialists when I was young. My orthodontist changed my life by giving me the smile I am remembered by today. I love people, art, and making an impact. Once I discovered the potential impact a confident smile can make in someone’s life, dentistry became the only career that would allow me to maximize my creative skills while fulfilling my drive for helping others. Dentistry is about so much more than teeth, and the world is finally starting to acknowledge this. I am so excited to incorporate my background in Nutrition Science and my passion for overall well-being to provide the next level of care for my patients.”
You can schedule with this Lincoln, NE dentist, or his partners, online 24/7 at a Lincoln Family Dentistry Location near you. This “dentist near me” serves the local communities close to Lincoln. Some of the communities include Eagle, Walton, Weeping Water, Avoca, and many more!