Home tooth whitening

A lot of people would say that the smile is the best feature of a person. Sadly, not a lot of people are confident about the beauty of their smile, conscious about the color of their teeth. Genetics, time, your dietary choices, and your personal habits can darken your teeth. Thankfully, it’s possible to do home tooth whitening procedures in order to deal with the problem.

Professional whitening solutions for home tooth whitening

Manufacturers have recognized the desire of consumers to make their teeth whiter, which is why they came up with an array of home tooth whitening products for them. These include:

• Whitening toothpastes. Whitening toothpastes are the easiest and cheapest tool you can use for tooth whitening at home. Use these as you would regular toothpaste in order to experience its whitening effects within a certain span of time.
• Bleaching trays. There are also bleaching trays that have been made for home tooth whitening solutions. While there are ready-made trays that you can purchase to do home tooth whitening, there are also some trays that will need the supervision of a dentist who will take impressions of your teeth in order to make trays that perfectly fit.  The teeth whitening gel will need to be applied to the tray before you wear it for a certain period of time.
• Whitening strips. These are placed on top of your teeth for a few minutes to a week or more to whiten your teeth. Because these are practically invisible, you can even wear these outside the house without fear of people noticing that you’re using these.

Do note that most of the home tooth whitening products available in the market today contain bleaching materials that can damage your teeth and increase sensitivity, so it’s not a good idea to use these for prolonged periods.

Natural home tooth whitening solutions

Because of the risks involved in using manufacturer-produced teeth whitening products, some people are opting instead to use natural home tooth whitening methods in order to improve the color of their teeth. Some of these solutions include:

• Baking soda. Baking soda remains to be the most popular home tooth whitening solution used today, especially since it is widely considered to be the safest and easiest ways to whiten teeth. Mix baking soda with some water to form a kind of paste and use this as you would your regular toothpaste. You can also mix aloe vera extract and vegetable glycerine to the powder for added whitening effect. To prevent damage to your teeth, brush with baking soda twice a month only.
• Hydrogen peroxide. Gargling with hydrogen peroxide can also do wonders to whiten your teeth. This home tooth whitening solution works because of its oxidizing and antibacterial properties. To use this home tooth whitening solution, mix this with equal parts water before gargling for about 60 seconds. When you spit the liquid out, allow the solution to sit on your teeth for two minutes before you rinse with water.
• Apple cider vinegar. Another teeth whitening at home mouthwash you can try by using a product found in your own home is apple cider vinegar. Swish the vinegar in your mouth for a few minutes before spitting it out. As with hydrogen peroxide, make sure to rinse your mouth with water afterward, especially since apple cider vinegar has high acid content that can damage your teeth.
• Strawberries. Your favorite fruit can also help whiten your teeth, thanks to the malic acid it contains. Cut these into halves (or quarters lengthwise, if you have a small mouth) and rub these against your teeth to use strawberries as a home tooth whitening solution. Alternatively, you can mash these and use these as an alternative to toothpaste.
• Lime and salt. Lime and salt is another effective home tooth whitening solution. Squeeze a lime and add equal parts salt. As with the baking soda, use the mixture as you would a regular toothpaste and brush for a few minutes. For added effect, you can add turmeric powder to the mix. Make sure that you rinse your mouth thoroughly with water afterwards to prevent the acid from damaging your teeth.
• Apples, celery, and carrots. Eating fruits and vegetables can also whiten your teeth, as these serve as natural stain removers by boosting your saliva production. You can either munch on these or rub these against your teeth for whiter teeth.
• Yoghurt, milk, and cheese. Not only do these contain calcium to make your teeth stronger, these can also prevent gum disease and can also clean and whiten your teeth.

While these natural remedies are less dangerous compared to the chemically manufactured ones, do note that these can also damage your teeth, especially those that contain acids. As such, be sure to use these remedies in moderation.

Of course, the effectiveness of these home tooth whitening solutions will depend on how you take care of your teeth. Cut back on smoking and drinking caffeine so that you will be able to experience the full benefits of these home tooth whitening remedies.