Home teeth whitening tips for a Hollywood smile
Whiter teeth scream health, happiness, and general cleanliness, which is probably why most A-listers and stars have sparkly pearly whites. Daydreaming about having a gleaming smile isn’t an impossible reality, not with some of our home whitening tips and techniques! Would you try any of these home teeth whitening solutions?
Oil pulling
Oil pulling, primarily with coconut oil, is an ancient Indian folk remedy that claims to whiten your teeth, freshen your breath, and kill bacteria in your mouth to improve your dental health. Oil pulling involves swishing and swilling coconut oil around your mouth like a mouthwash for around 15 minutes. A tablespoon is all you need to kill harmful bacteria in your mouth and wash them away down your bathroom sink. Some studies have even shown that doing this for as little as 10 minutes every day could significantly reduce the number of bacteria that encourage plaque build-up in as little as 2 weeks! This is clearly beneficial for your teeth’s whiteness as a build-up of plaque and bacteria will cause cavities, eating away at your enamel and revealing the yellow dentin beneath. Keeping your teeth healthy like this ensures your enamel stays intact, thus performing home teeth whitening with something you might have in your kitchen.
Foods for home teeth whitening
Your house, predominantly your kitchen, could be full of foods and fruits that work as natural teeth whitening. For example, did you know that apples are one of the best sources for natural bleach? They contain malic acid which naturally and safely bleach the surfaces of your teeth and their texture is rough and crunchy, ideal for dislodging unwanted stow-aways on your enamel. Strawberries contain the same malic acid, so you can enjoy a sweet treat while you whiten your teeth at home.
Make your own teeth whitening mouthwash
So, you should never substitute a step in your dental hygiene routine with one of these next tips and tricks, but it might be fun to try alongside what you’re currently doing. Baking soda is a natural bleach for teeth that is found in many toothpastes, but you could try harnessing this power for yourself. Try mixing a quarter teaspoon of baking soda with water and apply it (along with your regular toothpaste) to your teeth when brushing. It won’t harm your teeth and its proven to achieve natural teeth whitening. You could also try this trick with warm water and salt. Simply mix a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and use as a mouthwash for about 3 minutes. This solution isn’t only antibacterial, but effective for whitening your teeth at home.
Take-home teeth whitening kits
Nowadays, you don’t have to have in-office teeth whitening at your local dental practice. Take-home options are available everywhere, including from Harwood Dental Care in Bolton.
For example, the Enlighten teeth whitening system provides exceptional results all from the comfort of your own home. The only visit you make to the dentist is to create your custom-made teeth whitening trays, after which you will receive your whitening gel and treatment instructions. Simply wearing these trays overnight for at least 6 weeks achieves industry-standard results in as little as two weeks. Your dentist will then ask you to visit for a brief ‘power boost’ session to help your results last longer, and boom! Teeth whitening performed at over that only takes 2 weeks!
A second leading home brand of teeth whitening is Boutique Whitening, a safe and effective way to lighten the natural colour of your teeth without causing sensitivity. Boutique actually comes with two different treatment options to suit your lifestyle: Day or Night. The Day whitening gel can be worn in your whitening trays for 15 to 30 minutes twice daily, and Night whitening gel can be used for 1 to 2 hours or overnight. Regardless of which option suits your schedule better, you can typically expect to see great results within one to two weeks.
Home teeth whitening methods are great – changing your diet, lifestyle choices, and just trying something new could result in a drastic improvement in your teeth’s shade. Home whitening methods such as Enlighten and Boutique are available through our Bolton dentists, but we’d also be happy to hear from you if you’re seeking to promote your dental health. Enquire online or speak to a friendly team member from Harwood Dental Practice on 01204 304568 today for a brighter, whiter smile.
You can also find out more about tips to get whiter teeth naturally in one of our other blogs.