Just a few months before our wedding (waaay back), I decided to have my teeth whitened professionally. This was before I knew everything I know today about holistic health and had I known then, I can tell you right now there’s no way I would have let them go near anywhere near my precious pearly not-so-whites! I often wish I knew that there was a way to whiten teeth naturally back then!
If you’ve ever had your teeth professionally whitened, you may know that it’s quite a process which sometimes involves excruciating pain for those with sensitive teeth. I just so happened to be one of those people. I recall halfway through the treatment, screaming in agony and begging for the dentist to stop. I never quite made it through the rest of my treatment because I was in too much pain to continue.
Weeks… actually, months later I was still feeling the effects of the damage I’d inflicted on my poor teeth. And to be honest, even though I’d only had half a treatment which promised to leave my teeth super white regardless… it wasn’t all that noticeable.
Nevertheless, the damage has been done and I’ve spent the last few years caring for my teeth naturally and holistically (and they haven’t fallen out – as you can see in the pic to the left of our seriously cheesy grins). In order to prevent anyone else from going through the same pain (physical and financial), I have outlined six simple ways to brighten and whiten teeth naturally here:
1. Whiten teeth naturally through… OIL PULLING:
Oil pulling/swishing is amazing for so many things (you can read more about it in my article by clicking here) but in particular, it helps to keep teeth free of nasties and looking pearly white. When you oil pull with coconut oil in particular, you are assisting to keep your mouth and teeth clean because it is anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-fungal AND anti-viral.
I am often asked which brand of coconut oil I use and would recommend in any case, not just for oil pulling. To be honest, I’ve tried many and love many. I suggest getting your hands on: Loving Earth, Banaban, Indah Organics or Niugini.
2. Whiten teeth naturally through… SWISHING WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE:
Hydrogen peroxide is incredible for whitening (in fact, it’s incredible for SO much!). It is essentially just water with an extra molecule of oxygen and works as a wonderful mouthwash by killing mico-organisms through oxidization.
There are a few things you need to keep in mind when using hydrogen peroxide. Firstly, it must be 1 – 3%… NOT 35% strength. Please for the love of all things do not us 35% as it is highly toxic if ingested and is highly corrosive. And secondly, ensure you get your hands on food grade (generally not the stuff at the pharmacy – try your local health food store or organic shop).
We have been using ‘Essential Oxygen‘ as a mouth rinse for a while now which only contains 1% hydrogen peroxide, but you can also create your own by diluting 35% hydrogen peroxide with clean, filtered water and swish around your mouth for a minute then spit out. You can also dip your toothbrush into it and then brush your teeth.
3. Whiten teeth naturally through… USING ACTIVATED CHARCOAL:
This one seemed really counter intuitive to me at first. It’s black so surely it would stain your teeth, not whiten them, right?! Actually, quite the opposite.
We use activated charcoal for a number of reasons (first and foremost to assist with internal detoxification) but these days it’s all about the teeth. Many hospitals have it on hand for when patients present with toxic poisoning or need their stomachs pumped – it’s one of those ‘must-haves’ for the pantry.
By the way, when I refer charcoal, I don’t mean the crap underneath your barbecue, I’m talking about activated charcoal, which is made from plant-based materials when used medicinally (the one we use is made from coconut hulls) and is . Activated charcoal works through adsorption (not to be confused with absorption) and acts by electrostatically binding molecules to the surfaces of the charcoal particle. So in other words, it removes toxins by acting like a magnet when they ‘adhere’ to the surface of charcoal. And the best part is that it doesn’t affect the enamel!
We’ve been using this on and off for a few weeks now and I’ve noticed a big difference. In saying that, it also depends on the toothpaste I use which I cover in the next point below.
Want to know how to use activated charcoal? I found a fab recipe right here which goes a little something like this…
- Brush or clean your teeth as normal.
- Mix together 1/2 tsp activated charcoal powder with 1 tablespoon water
- Swish it around in your mouth for 15-30 seconds.
- Hold it in front of your front teeth for 3-5 minutes.
- Rinse your mouth – very well (in fact, you will need to keep rinsing until it comes off completely. I give my teeth a quick brush afterwards with water and also use a tongue scraper as it WILL make your tongue look like it’s about to fall off).
4. Whiten teeth naturally through… BRUSHING & FLOSSING OFTEN:
The toothpaste many of us know and grew up with is actually more damaging than we realise. It’s loaded with chemicals and fluoride which believe it or not is actually doesn’t support the health of our teeth or our bodies!
Use natural products only for brushing and flossing and do it twice daily. Better yet, make your own toothpaste! It’s quick, easy and soooo much better for you. Your enamel will thank you for it.
The best concoctions/recipes I have found are right here and right here.
Otherwise, you can pick up some ready-made natural toothpaste at your health food store or organic shop. My all-time favourite brand of toothpaste which is the BEST I have EVER used (and I’ve tried them all I assure you) is ‘Tooth Soap Whip‘. It’s not cheap but holy cow it’s freaking amazing! They also have a tooth brighter which rocks my world.
The best floss I have come across is Dr Tungs Smart Floss.
5. Whiten teeth naturally through… USING A TONGUE SCRAPER:
After learning about the many benefits of tongue scraping in my health coaching course and then being a person who loves to try everything at least once, I decided to give the tongue scraper a go (twice a day) and have already noticed a huge difference.
Tongue scraping comes from the tradition of Ayurveda and works by clearing out the deep deposits and keeping the mouth and tongue cleaner, stimulated and more “alive”. In particular, it works by removing the bacteria that causes bad breath, as well as slowing the growth of plaque by removing the coating on the top of the tongue.
The best tongue scraper around is Dr Tungs stainless steel tongue scraper.
6. Whiten teeth naturally through… NOT EATING CRAP:
Sorry to be harsh but the reason our teeth turn yellow is because we often eat foods that aren’t exactly nourishing for our bodies OR our teeth (ie: crap). Bacteria thrive on sugar and produce high acid levels that can eat away at enamel.
Refrain from eating sugary drinks and foods (like carbonated drinks and bottled juices), and where possible minimise red wine, coffee and black tea which can cause discolouration.
7. SNEAKY BONUS WHITENING TIP (this one is an old wives’ tale):
It is said that eating strawberries (or rubbing them on your teeth) will whiten teeth naturally due to their acid/vitamin C content. I’m yet to find concrete evidence on this one, but it couldn’t hurt to add these wonder berries into your diet anyway.
Do you have any secrets or special natural teeth whitening remedies? I’d love to hear what has been successful for you so please leave a comment below with your insights.
Love,
Candice x
photo credit: •●pfaff via photopin cc
Sources consulted: http://charcoalremedies.com
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