Natural Methods for Teeth Whitening

Natural Methods for Teeth Whitening

One of the reasons for yellowing of the teeth is advancing age, but there are several measures you can take to delay the process, or maybe even reverse it. While you can get a tooth-whitening kit from a nearby pharmacy to address issues like yellowing of the teeth, there are many natural options as well for teeth whitening that can protect your tooth enamel and also remove stains.

1. Causes of yellow teeth
There are two reasons that lead to yellowing of teeth, and both of them degrade with age:

  • Enamel thinning: The outermost layer of your teeth, called enamel, is white and protects the inner structure of the tooth. When the enamel starts to get thin, the yellow layer beneath it gradually becomes more prominent in appearance, which makes your teeth look yellow.
    The enamel can get thinner due to high consumption of acidic foods, aging, and gum disease. Certain people might also have naturally thin enamel.
  • Staining Certain foods and drinks like coffee can stain your teeth. Some foods responsible for staining may also affect the enamel, leading to yellowing of the teeth. Other reasons for staining can include consuming tobacco products and some types of antibiotics.

2. Natural methods for teeth whitening
Here are some natural ways to whiten your teeth:

  • Making dietary changes: You can prevent staining by eliminating foods that might trigger it from your diet. Foods and beverages that have high levels of tannin like tea can stain your teeth, along with other drinks like sodas and coffee.
  • Acidic foods can also give your teeth a yellow appearance by wearing down the enamel. If you are concerned about your teeth color, you should avoid excessive consumption of citrus as well. If the mentioned foods are an integral part of your diet, you should always brush your teeth after consuming them.
  • Oil pulling: Oil pulling is the term used for the process of cleaning the mouth using oils. This process helps in removing debris, dirt, and bacteria, and research implies that oil pulling with certain oils can be helpful for teeth whitening. However, it should be noted that oil pulling is not a replacement for brushing or flossing. The oils best suited for teeth whitening are:
  • Sunflower oil
  • Sesame oil
  • Coconut oil
  • Brushing with baking soda: Using baking soda to brush your teeth will gently polish stains away from the surface of your teeth. A common concern among people is that baking soda is excessively harsh and can wear down the enamel, but research states that it is a completely safe natural method of whitening.
    Baking soda also proves to be helpful against bacteria, implying that it may be effective in reducing plaque and in preventing tooth decay.
  • Whitening with fruit: Papain and bromelain are two enzymes considered to be effective for teeth whitening, and these enzymes are commonly found in papayas and pineapples, respectively.