How To Naturally Whiten Your Teeth
Many teeth whitening products on the market use chemicals to bleach teeth. This is a concern for many people. Fortunately, it is possible to whiten your teeth without any of the harmful chemicals.
There are many ways to whiten your teeth naturally. You can purchase natural whitening products, try home remedies, or use a mixture of both for a brighter smile.
Popular ways to whiten teeth include:
- Light-activated teeth whitening systems
- Natural whitening strips
- Natural whitening toothpaste
- Natural whitening mouthwashes
- Oral care products containing minimal amounts of hydrogen peroxide
- Changing your diet and incorporating more fruits and vegetables
- Practicing optimal oral care at home
Teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic dental treatment. In fact, Americans spend $1.4 billion annually on non-prescription teeth whitening products. $3.2 billion is spent on whitening treatments worldwide.
Why Do Teeth Stain?
Teeth can turn yellow due to intrinsic or extrinsic discoloration:
Extrinsic discoloration affects the outside of your teeth. It is caused by consuming certain foods and beverages (e.g., tea, red wine, coffee, and foods with dyes). Tobacco smoke can also cause this type of tooth discoloration. Poor oral hygiene can leave teeth looking darker and yellow due to plaque build-up. Since it only affects the outside of your teeth, whitening products can treat extrinsic discoloration.
At-home teeth whitening kits can give you the same results as professional whitening treatment in less than two weeks. (Be sure to follow instructions carefully).
Discover the top 10 teeth whitening products available today.
Intrinsic discoloration forms within your teeth. This type of discoloration is commonly caused by a childhood illness, genetics, infection, trauma, aging, or medications. To remove intrinsic discoloration, professional whitening treatment is typically necessary.
6 Ways to Naturally Whiten Your Teeth (Home Remedies)
There are a few ways to naturally whiten your teeth at home, including:
1. Practice Good Oral Hygiene
The best ways to keep your teeth white include:
- Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time
- Do not smoke or use tobacco products, which can harm your oral health and make your teeth yellow
- Floss to avoid colored foods from getting caught between your teeth
- Visit your dentist every six months for professional teeth cleanings
- Use whitening products a few times a week
- Limit intake of staining products like coffee, tea, red wine, dark berries, and curry powder
- Limit or avoid sugary foods and drinks
2. Eat a Healthy, Balanced Diet
Many healthy foods can also improve teeth health, strength, and brightness. These include, but are not limited to:
- Coarse vegetables like broccoli (high in fiber and require more chewing to break down, which increases saliva production and helps scrape away stains)
- Pineapple (contains bromelain, an anti-inflammatory compound that helps remove stains)
- Dairy products (increase saliva production to help remove stains)
- Nuts and seeds (natural exfoliators that help remove stains)
- Onions (contain sulfur to help keep plaque from forming on teeth)
- Celery and carrots (high in water, which helps remove debris between teeth)
3. Get Enough Calcium in Your Diet
Calcium is essential for strong bones, including your teeth. The stronger your teeth are, the lower the risk of damage. And the less damaged your teeth are, the less prone they are to yellowing.
Cheese, yogurt, and milk contain lactic acid and the enamel-fortifying mineral calcium, which strengthen your teeth and decrease the risk of stains/damage.
Many vegetables and dairy-free products also contain calcium. These include leafy green vegetables, soy products, legumes, beans, and nuts, among others.
4. Eat Fruits Containing Papain and Bromelain
Fruits like papayas and pineapples contain the enzymes papain and bromelain, which have been shown to have whitening effects on teeth. However, more research is still being done on the effectiveness of these enzymes.
5. Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide (Diluted)
Hydrogen peroxide (HP) is a natural bleaching agent. It also kills bacteria in your mouth, which can help prevent cavities and oral disease.
Many commercial whitening products list hydrogen peroxide as an ingredient. However, they often contain high concentrations of the chemical compound.
When hydrogen peroxide is heavily concentrated, it can lead to gum irritation, tooth sensitivity, and/or enamel erosion. However, studies show HP is safe to use if it is diluted in toothpaste or mouthwash.
It is best to use whitening products that contain 1 to 1.5 percent hydrogen peroxide. Many of these products also have small amounts of baking soda.
Do not overuse whitening products containing hydrogen peroxide or baking soda. Always make sure you read the instructions before using them.
6. Use Natural Whitening Products
Peroxide-containing products are safe to use on your teeth in small doses. However, some people prefer to use completely natural products.
Many natural whitening strips, toothpastes, and mouthwashes on the market use essential oils and botanicals to whiten teeth gradually.
What Makes a Whitening Product “Natural?”
Before purchasing a natural teeth whitening product, it is essential to look for certain features to ensure you are buying the best product.
All of the products listed below meet NewMouth’s standards for a “natural whitening product.”
These standards are:
- Certified non-toxic
- Enamel safe
- Non-abrasive
- Gluten-free
- Fluoride-free
- Preservative-free
- Sulfate-free
- Vegan ingredients
- Organic or naturally-derived ingredients
- Latex and paraben-free
- Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) free
- Sodium saccharin (artificial sweetener) free
- Sugar-free or naturally sweetened with safer sugar alcohols, such as xylitol
- Not tested on animals (cruelty-free)
- Clinically tested
- Whitens without sensitivity (chemicals can cause sensitivity)
- Dentist-formulated and approved
Why Trust Us?
All medical content on this site, including this guide and other products reviews, is written by our team of experienced writers and researchers. All NewMouth writers vet products that are recommended and reviewed in the industry. In cases where this is not possible, our team will:
- Compare positive and negative reviews on the products
- Talk to company leaders to ensure their products are safe and effective
- Look into costs to ensure customers are getting the best quality products at reasonable prices
- Read research studies to compare the pros and cons of each product
Every piece of content is heavily reviewed before publication. All content on NewMouth is also medically reviewed by a licensed dentist, specifically any content where we recommend products.
Our dentists are specifically instructed to flag any recommendations they don’t agree with. Any products that don’t meet their professional standards are removed.
None of the products on this page have the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. This is because ADA-approved whitening products do not use all-natural ingredients.
NewMouth recommends LED teeth whitening systems to achieve a brighter smile. They are affordable, easy to use, produce minimal side effects, and highly effective.
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