Your teeth are vital to how you feel about yourself. When you’re happy, you want to smile. What happens if you feel self-conscious about your teeth not being as white as they could be? You may not smile as widely, and this serves as a constant reminder of your teeth discoloration. That may bring you down, and make your self-esteem suffer. The good news is that you can whiten your teeth. There are some natural teeth whitening efforts that you can use at home. Sometimes, you may find that you could benefit from teeth whitening services offered by your dentist in cases of severe discoloration or needing to see quicker results because of an upcoming event in your life.
What Are Some Ways to Naturally Whiten Your Teeth at Home?
There are a few options when it comes to natural teeth whitening. Here are some of the top tips that you can consider.
Charcoal
Charcoal is one of the first options. You may have seen something about people brushing their teeth with activated charcoal. It looks rather unpleasant having a mouth full of black paste, but many swear by this natural teeth whitening method. You’ll undoubtedly want to rinse off thoroughly to get all of the charcoal out of your mouth.
Strawberries
Another option for naturally whitening your teeth at home is to eat strawberries. It may sound a little crazy, but there are some that believe that this is the best method. Strawberries contain malic acid in addition to vitamin C. This can act as a natural astringent for your teeth to remove stains and plaque. To get the full effect from strawberries, it’s recommended that you mash up the strawberries and brush your teeth with the paste. You’ll want to make sure that you thoroughly rinse off the berries since they contain a natural sugar.
Lemon and Baking Soda
Lemons are pretty fantastic when it comes to the smell improving our moods, and the juice acts as a cleaning agent. Baking soda is another excellent item in the kitchen with cleaning and deodorizing. Why not use them to help your teeth? You can whip up your own batch of natural teeth whitener by combining some baking soda with lemon juice. You’ll want to mix it so that you get those lovely bubbles that help with cleaning. Brush it onto your teeth as you would your toothpaste and rinse thoroughly.
How Do These Compare to a Trip to a Dentist?
The key comparison between natural teeth whitening at home and a trip to the dentist is the results you see, but there are a few other things that you should consider.
When it comes to results, natural teeth whitening often can’t compare to the whitening efforts that happen at the dentist office. The products used by your dentist offer faster results and can often get deeper into the tooth enamel to remove the stains that have built up over time. However, it’s still possible to see results over time with natural methods.
Another consideration is cost. Often, natural teeth whitening efforts at home can be more cost effective because they aren’t as expensive as a dental treatment. However, speak with your dental office as some may offer discounts or other financial incentives that make teeth whitening efforts more affordable.
In addition to the consideration of cost, there’s the amount time. Often, going to the dentist for teeth whitening may take at least an hour or longer. There’s also having to make appointments around your schedule and when they have openings. When you use natural teeth whitening options at home, you can handle it on your schedule without having to worry about time constraints. Also, these home treatment options often aren’t too time-consuming.
What Are Some Benefits of Natural Teeth Whitening?
Several benefits come from natural teeth whitening options. You use the products that you feel comfortable with on your schedule. You’re in complete control, and know exactly what you’re applying to your teeth.
Are There Any Downsides?
One of the main downsides in natural teeth whitening at home is the results. It can often take longer to see results and depending on your teeth, you may not get them as white as you’d like them. Dental whitening treatments at your dentist office can often be more powerful than those you do at home. That means you’ll see whiter results that usually occur faster than if you’d just rely on natural whitening methods.
Also, there’s the possibility that you may be whitening your teeth with substances like charcoal that are controversial. The nice thing about taking the trip to the dentist is that you know the materials used are non-toxic and safe for you to use.
Considering natural teeth whitening? Contact us at McCauley Dental for an appointment to talk about your teeth discoloration and the best treatment options for your smile. Our dental professionals can help you to get a smile you can be proud to have.