Though numerous teeth whitening products are readily available at local grocery and convenient stores, these harsh chemically based products can harm sensitive teeth, and all of the effective commercial products cost far more than is reasonable. With the proper home remedy, quality natural teeth whitening can be achieved at a much lower cost than professional whitening or expensive over the counter products.
Natural Teeth Whitening Methods:
Lemon Juice
Brushing the teeth with lemon juice is one of the most common home remedies used to whiten teeth; however, this citrus can be damaging, and it is a largely ineffective whitener. The citric acid in the fruit serves to break down tooth enamel, which protects the teeth from harmful bacteria, and strip away calcium that keeps the teeth hard and unmalleable.
Strawberries
Nearly as popular as the lemon juice remedy, brushing with strawberries is achieved by mashing the fruits into a paste and then brushing the teeth with it. Much like the lemon juice though, the citrus acid in the fruits can serve to break down enamel and strip away calcium; but with this fruit, the citrus is less concentrated than in the lemon, it is less harmful, and it is far more effective. If using strawberries as a natural teeth whitener, be sure to rinse out the mouth afterwards to remove residual acids.
Wood Ash
This natural whitener contains potassium hydroxide, which acts as a bleach upon the teeth. Wood ash is an effective home remedy, but the unappealing flavor of the burnt wood is enough reason to avoid this when there are equally effective home remedies that do not have the unfortunate attribute of terrible taste.
Baking Soda
Baking soda as a home remedy is arguably the most effective whitener without the multiple negative aspects that others afford; this natural whitener not only removes stains, but also kills bacteria and removes the harmful acids that can cause tooth decay. In addition to these multiple advantages, baking soda is easy to obtain and relatively inexpensive.
Conclusion
Among the plethora of natural teeth whitening products, baking soda is clearly the most effective and the least damaging; however, if baking soda is for some reason unobtainable, which is unlikely due to its widespread availability, brushing with a strawberry paste or wood ash would be a decent substitute.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional and/or medical advice. The information found in this article is provided "AS IS", and all warranties, express or implied, are disclaimed by the author.
