If you would like to whiten your teeth at home, there are alternatives to the conventional, over-the-counter whitening kits. You may already know that the abuse or overuse of over-the-counter whitening products can cause dental sensitivity that may prevent you from enjoying cold or hot foods. Here are a few natural alternatives for whitening your teeth:
Malic Acid
Malic acid is a mild acid that is found in certain foods, such as vinegar and strawberries. The acid helps dissolve dental discoloration that may be on the tooth enamel. To whiten the teeth using malic acid, make a paste of fresh strawberries and rub the mixture over the front surface of the teeth. Allow the paste to remain on the teeth for a couple of minutes. Then, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. After rinsing, you can brush your teeth with your regular toothpaste.
Malic acid can also be applied to the teeth using vinegar. Apple cider vinegar can be rubbed onto the front surface of the teeth using a cotton swab. It is best not to apply the vinegar with a toothbrush because the malic acid may incite a certain amount of softening of the enamel due to its acidity. This softening can make the enamel more prone to erosion during the application.
After rubbing vinegar on to the teeth, the mouth should be rinsed thoroughly with water. It can also be helpful too rinse with a solution made from a spoonful of baking soda and a cup of warm water. Since baking soda is alkaline, it can help neutralize any residual acid in the mouth.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide can whiten the teeth when paired with baking soda or when applied as a mouth rinse. The compound releases oxygen upon application to bleach stains from the teeth. The oxygenation caused by hydrogen peroxide also helps kill oral bacteria in the mouth that could be associated with the development of dental decay that could also discolor the teeth.
To use hydrogen peroxide in conjunction with baking soda, simply add enough three-percent hydrogen peroxide solution to the baking soda to form a loose paste, which can be brushed on to the teeth. After brushing with the peroxide-baking soda mixture, rinse your teeth and brush with your conventional paste.
To use hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash, add an equal part of water to the three-percent solution and rinse in the manner that you would with a conventional mouthwash.
To learn more ways to naturally whiten the teeth or to schedule a professional in-office whitening session, contact the office of a cosmetic dentist in your area. For general dentistry, contact a dentist such as Dr. Daniel Bade DDS.
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