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If you've ever found yourself standing in the toothpaste aisle weighing
the pros and cons of chemical teeth whiteners, then you likely
experienced one of the following scenarios. Either you couldn't bring
yourself to drop forty bucks. Or, you were worried about the bleach
damaging your teeth. Sound familiar? Then let me direct your attention
to some genius ways you can naturally whiten your teeth at home.
Because really, there's no denying teeth whitening is expensive. And, if
you do it too often or have sensitive teeth, you aren't wrong to worry
about potential negative side effects, either. "Conventional teeth
whitening actually damages the teeth because it's bleach so it's the
kind of thing someone might do safely on occasion, but it's not a good
idea for regular use," health and wellness expert Jennie Ann Freiman, MD
tells Bustle. She tells me the risks include teeth sensitivity, gum
irritation, and tooth enamel erosion. (Yikes.)
While professional whitening kits or a trip to the dentist will
certainly get the job done, I'm a big fan of a more natural route. If
you can, for example, brush with baking soda and see the same results,
why wouldn't give it a try? Read on for some other tips to naturally
whiten your teeth at home, so you can save some money and your teeth.
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Brushing With Activated Charcoal
While brushing with black charcoal may seem counterintuitive, trust me
when I say this stuff is great at whitening teeth. "All you do is dump
out a capsule in a cup and mix it with water, then dip your toothbrush
in," says oral fitness expert Dr. Gary Glassman. "Brush your teeth with
it for two or three minutes and then spit it out. Next brush your teeth
with regular toothpaste and rinse." The charcoal will attract tannins —
the staining compounds found in wine and coffee — and help lift them
away. |
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Rubbing Teeth With A Banana Peel
Tomorrow morning, save your banana peel and then get to whitening your
teeth. "All you do is take a piece of the inside of the banana peel and
gently rub it around on your teeth for about two minutes," Glassman
says. "The high amounts of potassium, magnesium, and manganese in the
ripe banana can be applied to the teeth to remove stains and whiten
them." |
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Swishing Some Apple Cider Vinegar
If you don't already have ACV in your cabinet, go get some now. Not only
is it useful for cooking and cleaning, but it's an excellent teeth
whitener, too. "You can create a rinse of one part apple cider vinegar
and two parts water, then gently swish around the mouth for about one
minute," Glassman says. The acidity will help remove plaque and stains,
and can even improve your overall oral health. |
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Brushing With Turmeric
Turmeric may be a bright yellow color, but it still works surprisingly
well as a teeth whitener. To whip up a mixture, Freiman suggests
combining 1/8 of a teaspoon into about 1/4 teaspoon coconut oil. Brush
with the paste for two minutes, let it soak in for an additional two
minutes, then rinse with water. While it will stain your toothbrush,
it'll magically de-stain your teeth. |
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Oil Pulling With Coconut Oil
If you have some coconut oil and an extra 15 minutes, then give oil
pulling a try. As Glassman says, "Swishing it in your mouth, in and out
of your teeth will do the trick." This is all thanks to the oil's
antiviral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties which kills
bacteria, removes plaque, and lets your teeth's natural whiteness shine
through.
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Brushing With Baking Soda
If you want to keep it as simple as possible, then the baking soda
method is for you. All you have to do is wet your toothbrush and dip it
into baking soda, then brush as usual for about two minutes, celebrity
dentist Dr. April Patterson tells me. Easy as that.
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