Teeth whitening has been going on for centuries. It may have started out as something women did to beautify themselves, but today, the desire to have the whitest teeth possible is one that everyone shares. The methods used to whiten teeth has changed quite a bit. Where once natural substances, items and methods were used, today sometimes, things are used that make it dangerous to whiten teeth. Unbelievably, you can make your teeth too white, or too sensitive, cause cavities or make any ones you have much worse. There are also those teeth whitening products that make the teeth too sensitive. The worst of all however is those that eat away at the teeth removing layers of tooth enamel. On the less harmful side, we have teeth-whitening products sold over the counter that aren’t effective and are just a waste of money. So how do we avoid all of the dangerous products out there and still get strong, sparkly, pearly whites? The answer may be sitting in your kitchen cupboard, and if it’s not already, then this one item is definitely in your nearest health food store. What is this single item that’s been proven to get you whiter teeth in a totally harmless and gentle manner? The answer is coconut oil.
Using Coconut Oil To Whiten Teeth
Coconut oil is not just good for the teeth, it’s good for the inside of your mouth, the outside, the throat and more.
How To Use Coconut Oil To Whiten Your Teeth
The long-standing Ayurvedic tradition of oil pulling is the method used to whiten teeth with coconut oil. All you need is organic coconut oil, a tablespoon and an uninterrupted twenty minutes. Simply measure out a tablespoon of coconut oil and put it in your mouth. Note the time on the clock and begin swishing it around. For many of us, this involves heavy use of the cheek muscles, but a lot of those who have done this practice say their tongue is what ends up feeling tired. The coconut oil may be solid when you first put it in your mouth, but it will almost instantly liquefy. So, swish it all around side-to-side from one cheek to the other and back and forth from the back of the tongue to the front and between your teeth as much as possible. Three things are going to start happening. Well, this act does many things, but what you will notice right off is that the oil will start to get frothy, just keep pulling, you may feel an urge to swallow the oil, don’t, just keep pulling, and your mouth will start to get tired, and you may want to spit it out. Don’t just keep pulling. Some revert to simply holding the oil in their mouth for 20 minutes and just occasionally swishing it around or just moving it around less aggressively so as not to get too tired. One added benefit of vigorous swishing is that your facial muscles will get quite a workout, and you will simultaneously be giving yourself an all natural face-lift. So, after the 20 minutes are up, spit out the oil, even though it won’t look like oil at this point, take a minute to relax your facial muscles, do some gentle stretching with them, smile a huge smile on a job well done, and yes, brush your teeth as normal, then smile again.
When Will Your Teeth Start To Get White?
You may notice your teeth look a tad bit whiter, but generally it could take up to a week and a half of doing this pretty much everyday to notice a real difference. After three weeks, your teeth should be back to their natural pearly whiteness. Once you are satisfied with the colour of your teeth, you can go back to just doing this about once a week for maintenance purposes.
Tip: There’s no rule that says you can’t do anything else while oil pulling.
Some things you can do to help pass the time are:
- Take a shower, you may even be able to get your entire bathing ritual in while doing this
- Write a blog post
- Clean your bathroom
- Prepare breakfast
If you are trying to figure out the best time of day to oil pull for whiter teeth, the original Ayurvedic practice is to do oil pulling first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. However, if your main aim is to whiten teeth, then any time of the day should be fine.
The Benefits of Coconut Oil For Teeth Whitening
So how does oil pulling whiten teeth? Plaque, which is what builds up on your teeth and changes their colour, is made up of microscopic pieces of bacteria each cloaked in a fatty membrane. This fatty membrane is attracted to the fat in the oil you’re pulling to the point that the membranes are pulled away from your teeth. Leaving your teeth white. So what other proven benefits are there to oil pulling for white teeth? By using coconut oil for teeth whitening, you are benefiting in other ways too. It prevents gingivitis and fights bad breath. Oil pulling with coconut oil also helps to get rid of cavities and prevents new ones.
- Although coconut oil does so many good things for your entire body, today we are just going to focus on what else you can use it for when you have it around for teeth whitening.
- Coconut oil makes a great lip balm, and rubbing a bit on your lips after their oil pulling workout should feel pretty good. Coconut oil will also give your lips a nice natural colour.
- Swallow a tablespoon of coconut oil to combat deep-rooted bad breath problems and to give you an energy high without the caffeine.
- Create an instant shot to gargle with: Mix 1 tablespoon coconut oil, one tablespoon apple cider vinegar and one tablespoon warm water. Gargle away to soothe and heal a sore throat.
- If you are not looking for a teeth whitener just yet but you are looking for a gentle and effective way to instantly banish bad breath, then let a tablespoon of coconut oil melt in your mouth and then swish it around for a few seconds.
Enjoy the whitest teeth and the best oral hygiene by following the most dentist recommended tips. These are:
- Brushing your teeth with an electric toothbrush. The brush bristles should be soft. Using an electric toothbrush ensures that your teeth are getting brushed correctly. It is hard to brush all of your teeth gently and in a circular motion when you are using a toothbrush.
- Flossing with an electronic water flosser. This is a lot more gentle on your teeth, and it is what dentists are recommending these days.
- Using an all home-made or natural mouthwash. These do just fine as a mouthwash unless you are trying to get rid of an infection or recovering from oral surgery in which case your dentist might recommend a specific mouthwash for a certain period of time.
- If your teeth are so damaged to the point that they can’t be whitened, then your dentist may recommend an alternative, like veneers. The process covers each tooth in a hard layer of ceramic or porcelain that resembles your natural teeth.
Above all, the most important thing you can do to ensure the beauty of your teeth is to see your dentist regularly. This will help you catch any dental health issues before they become too serious.
