Many of us covet a sparkling, pearly white smile. Being able to show off a winning grin can boost our self-confidence and help us take pride in maintaining our oral health.
While getting professional teeth whitening by a dentist near you is always the best option, sometimes that’s not always feasible. Fortunately, there are safe, easy, and affordable ways for you to whiten your teeth at home, and they have been proven effective time and time again.
Why Don’t Our Teeth Stay White?
Ah, the age-old question. Our teeth consist of four different tissues, which are the enamel, cementum, dentin, and pulp, also known as the innermost tissue where the nerves and blood vessels are located. Tissues, and by extension, our teeth, are porous, meaning that they absorb different things, including the color of the food. As a result, they become stained.
You’ve probably heard from your dentist in edmonton that stains build up naturally over time due to eating and drinking multiple times a day. Nourishment like berries, coffee, wine, and soy sauce, as well as smoking, will stain your teeth more severely than other things.
Tricks for Teeth Whitening at Home
If finding DIY ways to whiten your teeth in Edmonton is something you’re interested in, here are some methods you should consider:
Trick #1: Lemon Juice and Baking Soda.
This is one of the simplest tricks in the book to achieve teeth whitening near you. All you need to do is mix equal parts lemon juice and baking soda until a paste forms. Brush this onto your teeth and leave it to sit for about two minutes.
The acid in the lemon juice acts as a natural brightener, o it will gradually remove the stains over time. And the baking soda is there to balance out the acid and make sure that your teeth aren’t damaged.
Trick #2: Activated Charcoal
Rub black charcoal to get whiter teeth, you say? Sounds silly, but it works!
It’s important that you purchase medical-grade charcoal or, in other words, charcoal that is purposefully designed to help brighten teeth.
Dip your toothbrush into the charcoal (which will come as a powder) and spread it over your teeth, leaving it to sit for approximately forty-five seconds to a minute. This lets the charcoal seep into the pores on your teeth and thus, the stains. Next, brush the charcoal over your teeth, rinse, and then brush with ordinary toothpaste, and voila! The whitening process has begun!
Trick #3: Oil Pulling
As is the way with DIY methods, there are some that people swear by and others that some are unsure about. Rest assured, this trick is harmless and is great for those dealing with teeth sensitivity.
Essentially, oil pulling is meant to extract the bacteria from inside your mouth, boosting your oral cleanliness and promoting teeth whitening. All you have to do is swish coconut oil in your mouth for fifteen to thirty minutes and then brush your teeth.
Trick #4: Rub Lemon Rinds on Your Teeth
The chemistry behind this trick is almost identical to that of brushing with lemon juice and baking soda. The lemon rinds also contain acid that will induce brightness; it’s just less aggressive than using lemon juice. Again, this is a good option for those with sensitive teeth. Just be sure to rinse your mouth thoroughly afterward.
Trick #5: Brush Your Teeth
Searching for ways to whiten your teeth in Edmonton is good, but it won’t help if you’re not brushing your teeth every day. Teeth brushing should always be part of your daily oral health regimen. For extra help, use teeth whitening toothpaste.
At the end of the day, which trick works best is up to you, your preferences, and how your body responds to different treatments. Don’t be afraid to research or talk to your dentist if you have further questions. Here at Manchester Dental Edmonton, we are more than happy to assist you in any way! To know more about teeth whitening please visit our dentists in Edmonton today.