The quest for whiter teeth has driven adults of all ages to resort to a range of seriously bizarre approaches over the years. Unsurprisingly, for every one genuinely helpful trick or tip out there, you will usually find a hundred others that are nothing of the sort…counterproductive, in many instances.
With such a wealth of conflicting information available, it can be very difficult to know which advice to heed. Which is precisely why the professionals recommend only ever buying into the kind of information that is shared by professionals. When it comes to effective ways to whiten teeth, there is a big difference between a proven approach and personal opinion/theory.
So before diving headfirst into any particular strategy, check out the following 11 tried and tested approaches to whitening teeth at home that actually work:
1 – Get A New Toothbrush
First of all, if you’re not already using the very best electric toothbrush you can lay your hands on, this represents a very good place to start. The simple fact of the matter is that irrespective of how hard you try or how high its quality may be, a manual toothbrush simply cannot do the same job as an electric toothbrush. Which is precisely why dental professionals all over the world exclusively use electric toothbrushes when caring for patients. A better clean means better stain removal which in turn means whiter teeth, naturally.
2 – Brush Your Tongue
Without getting too graphic with just how unpleasant it really can be, it’s important to acknowledge that your tongue is a breeding ground for all things unpleasant. There are so many different types of bacteria that can not only flourish on your tongue, but also contribute to discoloration of teeth. It’s been common knowledge for some time that brushing your tongue is of the utmost importance for the purposes of both sanitising your mouth and protecting your teeth. Nevertheless, research suggests that the vast majority of people still do no such thing.
3 – Apple Cider Vinegar
In terms of homemade preparations that have the potential to work, one of the most commonly used is simple cider vinegar. It’s simply a case of mixing two parts water with one part apple cider vinegar and using it as something of an organic mouthwash. Admittedly, it doesn’t taste particularly fantastic, but it really does have the potential to get the job done and contribute to brighter, whiter teeth.
4 – Home Kits
One of the most effective and undoubtedly the most obvious way of whitening your teeth at home is to invest in the best teeth whitening strips you can lay your hands on. In this instance, it’s a case of checking out as many reviews and recommendations as possible online from independent sources, in order to find out which do the best job possible without causing harm to your teeth. Suffice to say, not all teeth whitening kits are of the same calibre and quality counts for a great deal.
5 – Raw fruits and vegetables
For those preferring to stick with the most natural approach possible to DIY teeth whitening, it’s pretty safe to say that you cannot get much better than eating plenty of raw fruits and vegetables. It’s a tried and tested technique for giving your teeth a fantastic clean while at the same time putting something seriously healthy into your body. Teeth whitening is for the most part about keeping your mouth immaculately clean and healthy – something raw fruits and vegetables can certainly help with.
6 – Strawberries
Another 100% natural approach which may sound rather bizarre but has nonetheless earned quite a reputation in celebrity circles is to use mashed strawberries. An undoubtedly delicious alternative to standard teeth whitening methods, it’s a case of mashing a handful of strawberries, putting the mush in your mouth and letting it sit on your teeth for a few minutes. When done on a regular basis, it really does have the potential to help improve natural whiteness.
7 – Use a Straw
It’s no secret that one of the very worst thing you can do when looking to whiten your teeth is to allow things like coffee, red wine and other deeply-coloured drinks to come into contact with your teeth. As such, one of the simplest ways of ensuring your teeth stay as white as possible is to ensure you only ever drink such beverages with a straw. Using a straw ensure that the liquid goes straight to the back of the mouth, rather than coming into contact with the teeth directly.
8 – Coconut Oil
Another effective natural approach that has become extremely popular in celebrity circles is that of using coconut oil. In this instance, all you need to do is add a liberal smear of coconut oil to your teeth after each brushing, leaving it in place for a few minutes before rinsing away. It’s simple, it’s natural and it really does have the potential to help both remove and prevent stains.
9 – Rinse Following Citrus Fruits
Staying away from citrus fruits entirely is of course a bad idea as they can be quite fantastic for your health and wellbeing. Nevertheless, citrus fruits across the board are packed with citric acid, which has a nasty habit of causing damage to the enamel on the surface of the teeth and can weaken their resistance to staining. As such, it is generally suggested that when and where possible, it is a good idea to give the mouth a good rinse after eating citrus fruits.
10 – Chew Gum
One of the very best things in the world when it comes to defending your teeth from stains and helping preserve natural whiteness is saliva. As such, if you can get into the habit of chewing gum on a regular or even constant basis, this will have an enormous impact not only on the whiteness of your smile, but also your oral health in general.
11 – Alcohol-Free
Last but not least, it’s important to remember that while those ultra-strong alcohol-based mouthwash products you use on a regular basis can leave your mouth feeling incredibly clean, they are not necessarily doing a great deal of favours for your teeth. Research has shown that alcohol-free mouthwash can be considerably more caring for your teeth and gums, while at the same time contributing to natural whiteness and stain-prevention.
