Natural Methods
There are many popular natural ways to whiten one's teeth. Some natural teeth whitening methods can be very gentle on the teeth, while others can lead to enamel damage. One efficient type of natural teeth bleaching is through the use of malic acid, a natural occurring acid in fruits that contribute to their pleasantly sour taste and is made by all living organisms. One simple way of natural tooth bleaching is by applying the pulp of crushed strawberries (which contains malic acid) to the teeth and leaving it there for five minutes. Remains of strawberry pulp can be removed by flossing the teeth. Another way is by 'gently and circularly' brushing one's teeth with some baking soda (an 'abrasive' teeth whitener) using a soft toothbrush. Malic acid and sodium bicarbonate are effective whitening treatments but should be used sparingly as both methods are not too gentle on the teeth. They could lead to enamel damage if used indiscriminately (i.e., more than a couple of times a week or so).
Apples, celery and carrots also support and help whitening teeth, as they act like natural stain removers by increasing saliva production (the mouth's self-cleaning agent) and scrub the teeth clean. They help maintain a fresh breath by killing bacteria that produces halitosis. The juice of apples, especially green apples, contains malic acid (malic is derived from the Latin word for apple mālum; the acid was named after it).
Lemons are sometimes used as a whitening agent by squeezing the juice on the teeth and lightly brushing for a couple of minutes. Extreme caution should be exercised with this method as the high acidity of lemon can easily damage the enamel, much more so if it is not promptly rinsed out completely with warm water.
A whitening toothpaste can be made by mixing one part baking soda with two parts of hydrogen peroxide. While some cheaper commercial whitening toothpastes have baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) as the whitening ingredient, it is not recommended to use a baking soda-based toothpaste daily for long periods.
Read more about this topic: Tooth Bleaching, Methods, At-home
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