5 surprising teeth whitening tips
Overview
Oil pulling
Oil pulling is a traditional Indian remedy that aims to optimize oral hygiene and clear out the toxins from your body.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to gargle olive oil to make it easier for you to choose; we recommend using coconut oil because of its pleasant taste and high content in lauric acid, which is an extremely efficient bactericidal compound (a fancy way of saying: it kills bacteria).
Studies have found a relationship between oil pulling and a reduction in the risk of bacterial overgrowth, plaques, and gingivitis.
Fortunately, oral bacteria are sensitive to daily swishing with oil, and you can expect results in as little as one week.
To oil pull, use coconut oil around your mouth and teeth for around 15-20 minutes daily.
Baking soda
Baking soda has been used for decades to whiten teeth and as part of commercial toothpaste. We've covered it before, but let's go more in-depth.
The mechanism behind its effectiveness is the mild abrasive property it possesses, which removes stains on teeth.
Moreover, this product creates an alkaline environment in your mouth to halt the growth of bacteria. You see, most bacteria cannot survive in a high PH milieu (above 7) since the excess alkaline bases disintegrate their external membranes.
Note that baking soda has no magical powers to whiten your teeth the day before your wedding (congratulations, by the way!), but consistent use delivers results in a few weeks.
While researchers did not cover the effects of brushing your teeth with plain baking soda, some studies confirmed the whitening properties of baking soda used as an ingredient in toothpaste.
For instance, one study found that baking soda-rich toothpastes are more effective at whitening teeth compared to standard products.
When trying to determine the degree of this effect, they found that the higher the concentration of baking soda is, the better the results.
Another review that analyzed five studies also found similar results, favoring baking soda toothpastes over their counterparts.
Scientists concluded that “The collective results from the five controlled clinical studies on over 270 subjects reported in this paper, consistently demonstrate that Arm & Hammer baking soda dentifrices enhanced plaque removal effectiveness of tooth brushing to a significantly greater extent than the non-baking soda dentifrice products.”
This remedy is simple to use. All you have to do is mix one teaspoon of baking soda with two teaspoons of water, then brush your teeth with the mixture.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is considered a natural bleaching agent that eradicates all bacteria in the oral cavity.
For years, this product has been used as a wound disinfectant because of its properties. Similar to baking soda, hydrogen peroxide is also used as an active ingredient in famous toothpastes.
In one study, researchers found that the combination of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide yields impressive whitening results.
Another study also found that toothpastes that contain baking soda and hydrogen peroxide whiten the teeth by 62% in 6 weeks.
Although this compound is effective at teeth whitening, you should limit your use because of some fears about its side effects.
Strawberries
For people who can’t tolerate using baking soda alone, you can add strawberry to the mixture to make the experience more pleasant.
The theory states that malic acid found in strawberries is capable of removing tooth discoloration, which is then scrubbed away by baking soda.
The positive thing about strawberries is their ability to exfoliate your teeth without causing extensive damage to the enamel, which is not the case for other whitening products.
In a 2014 study, the use of strawberry and baking soda produced some whitening effects.
Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar offers a myriad of health benefits, including the ability to disinfect different objects.
The active ingredient in this product is acetic acid, which possesses potent antibacterial properties that cleanse the mouth and teeth from harmful substances to restore a fresh and healthy-looking oral cavity and brighten your smile.
In one study, researchers found that apple cider vinegar has bleaching effects that may whiten the teeth. However, experts recommend using this product with caution since it may alter the structure of the teeth and make them softer.
Takeaway message
Preparing for your wedding is already stressful enough, and the last thing we want to add to that equation is worrying about teeth whitening.
For this reason, we developed our unique Teeth Whitening Kit that adds a synergetic effect to all the products cited above. By using home remedies with our kit, you will increase your chances of getting that bright smile you’ve been looking for.
For any questions about what was discussed above, please do not hesitate to ask me directly at Info@Bridebrite.co.
