Snow-white, straight teeth are the key beautiful smile. The white color of tooth enamel is largely due to genetic predisposition. But you can lighten them using various methods.
Is it possible to whiten your teeth at home, on your own?
Few people know that the strongest enamel has a slightly yellowish tint. However, people are keen to whiten their teeth to achieve an attractive smile. This can be done at home, because not everyone can afford professional whitening services, and many are afraid of damaging the enamel by going to the dentist.
The effect of home whitening is not as obvious as after professional cleaning, but it is cheap and safe. The main thing in this procedure is not to harm your teeth, so you should strictly adhere to the whitening rules.
The purpose of this procedure is to change the surface of the tooth using certain funds. Much depends on the texture of the teeth, the structure of the enamel, and the natural original color; all these factors should be taken into account so as not to get an undesirable result in the form of spots of different colors on the surface.
Before answering the question of how to whiten teeth, you should familiarize yourself with the contraindications for this procedure:
- Weak enamel;
- Increased abrasion;
- The presence of cracks in the teeth;
- Surface defects;
- Increased sensitivity;
- Pregnancy and lactation period.
There are many options for whitening your teeth at home, but the most common ones are the following:
- Special paste or gel;
- Using soda;
- Hydrogen peroxide;
- Lemon;
- Activated carbon;
- Special.
Before deciding how to quickly whiten your teeth, you need to weigh the pros and cons. If the decision is positive, all possible negative consequences should be minimized.
Application of soda
Before you find out how to whiten your teeth with soda, you need to decide on the advantages and dangers of this method. This option is the most optimal and simple; the product is available in every housewife’s home, so unnecessary costs for the procedure can be avoided. And the result is amazing; even after the first application, the enamel becomes several tones lighter.
This procedure can be carried out in several ways:
- Wet a piece of gauze with water, dip it in baking soda and rub it over your teeth. Leave for a few minutes, then rinse your mouth.
- Make a concentrated soda solution (readiness is determined at the moment when soda no longer dissolves in water). Dip a toothbrush into the prepared solution and brush your teeth.
An unpleasant aftertaste can be avoided by mixing baking soda with toothpaste. The abrasive particles of this product have excellent cleaning properties, removing a deep layer of dirt.
This method is not recommended for use more than once a week, as frequent use of the substance may damage tooth enamel, provoke increased sensitivity. This, in turn, will increase the risk of tooth decay.
The disadvantages of this method include the fact that the effect does not last long. Baking soda allows you to provide superficial care, and after a week or two your teeth will have to be whitened again. Color is influenced by various factors: smoking, coloring drinks, drinking coffee.
Soda can cause bleeding gums, rashes around the mouth and allergies, irritation of mucous membranes, and increased sensitivity to cold and hot foods. Therefore, you need to be extremely careful when carrying out the procedure and not get carried away.
Soda is used not only in its pure form, it can be combined with lemon juice, mixed with hydrogen peroxide, but this procedure is allowed no more than once every two weeks.
Activated carbon
Procedure for whitening teeth activated carbon, quite simple. This great way whitening at home, which has minimal risks. Even if coal gets into the digestive tract, there is no danger compared to other methods.
Coal has good properties that have been known for a long time. This method was used by grandmothers, using wood ash for cleansing. They rubbed their teeth with it or simply chewed individual pieces of coal in such a way that they cleaned the entire surface of the dentition.
This method even has scientific explanation– charcoal contains a powerful abrasive substance, potassium hydroxide, which gently cleanses plaque and removes stains on teeth, preventing their reappearance.
Teeth are cleaned with crushed charcoal; it is used as tooth powder. Dip the brush into these particles and clean as usual. It is not recommended to press hard, otherwise you may damage the enamel.
Another simple way to cleanse is to thoroughly chew 2-3 tablets, then rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. To remove black particles stuck between the teeth, brush again with toothpaste.
Charcoal also has an adsorbing effect; it removes all harmful substances, toxins that negatively affect the enamel, destroying it and causing stains. This method cannot be used often so as not to harm the enamel.
Contraindications to the use of this method are damage to the surface of the teeth, cracks, caries. Charcoal is quite effective for whitening, but the results do not last long.
We use hydrogen peroxide
Before solving the problem of how to whiten teeth with hydrogen peroxide, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the precautions. Hydrogen peroxide is a popular enamel whitening agent; it is included in bleaching products and allows you to change the color by several tones. Can also be used at home.
The concentration of the product used in dentistry is 30 percent. At the same time, the gums and soft fabrics The oral cavity is carefully protected from its effects.
The procedure can only be carried out by a qualified dentist who performs preliminary remineralization of teeth using a special composition. This helps prevent hydroxyapatite from being washed out of the enamel.
Naturally, only a 3 percent solution can be used at home. There are many recipes for cleansing and whitening using hydrogen peroxide, but the most popular is the following method:
- A cotton swab is moistened with the solution and applied to the problematic surface of the tooth. After a few minutes, rinse your mouth with water.
A chemical reaction occurs that cleans the surface. But since peroxide is a carcinogen, you need to make sure that it does not get on your gums or in your stomach. It is not advisable to use this remedy for longer than one month; procedures are carried out once a week. You should definitely take a break between bleaching for up to 3 months.
If unpleasant sensations (burning, pain) occur, the procedure should be stopped immediately. Do not use the product for problems with the oral cavity - ulcers, wounds or other damage, as well as for untreated caries and periodontal disease. In some cases, the composition begins to foam on the teeth, this is a normal reaction, you should not be alarmed.
Whitening strips
This method of teeth whitening is gaining popularity due to its popularity on social media. You can do this yourself at home; using the strips is very simple and affordable.
You can buy them at the pharmacy. Each strip is designed for one-time use. It is carefully glued to the teeth and left on for half an hour. To obtain a lasting result, the whitening course lasts two weeks. After completing the procedures, the enamel becomes noticeably whiter.
The only drawback of this method is that it is short-lived when exposed to external factors. There is no point in spending money on such whitening for a person who smokes and constantly drinks coffee. In addition, the strips are often loosely fixed, which leads to uneven whitening.
Professional whitening at the dentist
Professional is produced in two stages. The first is at the dentist, the second is at home, the result is consolidated. A competently carried out procedure allows you to maintain a pleasant light color tooth enamel.
At the dental clinic, the patient can be offered two whitening options:
- First it is carried out to remove plaque. Then, by using certain chemical substances the reaction starts.
- Whitening is carried out using special devices - lamps, lasers.
The first option is most often used. The second method is more expensive, both for the patient and for the clinic. But in terms of efficiency, it is superior to the chemical method, allowing you to lighten tooth enamel by several tones. A whitening course contains up to three procedures, depending on the desired result and other factors.
The results are consolidated at home. This is an important stage that allows you to maintain white teeth for long term. The dentist prescribes weak chemical compounds, a special “mouth guard” is made - a mouthguard. It should be worn at night.
It is important to use mouthguards that are created according to individual parameters; this is provided by the doctor. You can also purchase ready-made mouth guards at the pharmacy that contain a whitening composition. But their use is undesirable, since it is necessary that they tightly cover the dentition.
The consolidation stage lasts 5-10 days. After this, you can maintain the result every six months by wearing a mouth guard for one night. This procedure is called whitening. The effectiveness of this method is high; as a rule, repeating the procedure is not required. A long period Pleasant color is maintained without bleaching.
There is another effective and popular way to clean and whiten tooth enamel. It is also done in the dentist's office. This method allows you to remove stubborn plaque in hard-to-reach places that cannot be cleaned using conventional methods.
A sandblasting machine is used, with the help of which the enamel is exposed to a strong stream of air in combination with water and soda. Not only cleansing occurs, but also polishing of the enamel. It is impossible to carry out this procedure at home; its cost is quite high.
Sometimes you need to create perfect smile On the photo. In this case, it will come to the rescue special program, which allows you to make cosmetic changes to images - Photoshop. Any version of this program will do.
You can study material on how to whiten teeth in Photoshop on any website dedicated to working with this program. Using special settings can improve the image, since most people do not like their photos precisely because of their ugly smile.
The secret is to take advantage of the desired tooth color using a line of tools called Lightening. There is an option to create an adjustment layer, which will also solve the problem. It is created from the Hue/Saturation function and allows you to reduce the intensity of the yellow tint.
Before you start working on the image, you should enlarge the desired area so that all the nuances and details that are in regular format escape sight. Then the mask is carefully applied, on which the work is already being done.
How to keep your teeth white for a long time
You can preserve the natural white color of tooth enamel if you carry out regular preventive maintenance. To do this, you should regularly visit the dentist for professional dental care and strictly observe oral hygiene.
Quitting smoking is of great importance, since nicotine is the primary cause of the appearance of an unpleasant yellow plaque. If necessary, you should reduce the consumption of strong tea and coffee.
There are many foods that cause staining of tooth enamel. These include sweets and carbonated drinks with a high content of coloring compounds, juices - pomegranate, orange, berries.
Wine also poses a danger, and not only red, as is commonly thought, but also white. It contains a high content of tannins, which give the enamel a yellowish tint. Sauces and seasonings that are consumed in excessive quantities increase the risk of yellowing teeth. This tomato ketchup and curry, vinegar and various sauces based on mayonnaise and sour cream.
Many people think that it is enough after consumption coloring products just rinse your mouth or brush your teeth. In fact, this is a wrong opinion. After exposure to teeth active substances, the enamel becomes vulnerable, so it is not recommended to clean it right away. It's better to just hold water in your mouth.
Protects enamel from damage from saliva, and advertising company chewing gum uses propaganda that chewing increases its secretion. But this is not as useful as it seems; elastic bands contain harmful components, so it is not recommended to use them constantly.
After bleaching, you should avoid eating coloring products for a while. And to prevent the appearance yellow plaque All colored drinks should be consumed through a straw. These simple rules will allow your smile to always remain dazzlingly beautiful!
A beautiful smile attracts attention, but for this, everything about it must be perfect: internal positive energy and impeccable, well-groomed teeth. Professional whitening in a dental clinic requires time and money, but fortunately, There are quick express methods that allow you to whiten your teeth at home in just 1 day.
Is bleaching always acceptable?
It is not always possible to whiten your teeth at home using express methods that work in one day. Abrasives, even natural ones, have a rough effect on tooth enamel. If there are microcracks on it, amateur whitening can result in catastrophic destruction of the enamel layer. And if teeth are damaged by caries or have chipped edges, any careless impact can speed up the process of tissue destruction. Therefore, if a person has not undergone preventive examinations at the dentist for a long time and is not confident in the integrity of his teeth, it is better not to risk using “rough” methods of lightening the enamel.
Infectious and chronic diseases gums, lips, tongue and mucous membranes of the oral cavity are also a direct contraindication to any teeth whitening option, otherwise the inflammation may increase many times over. The list of such diseases includes:
- periodontitis and periodontal disease;
- gingivitis;
- stomatitis;
- herpes;
- measles, ARVI and any other infections manifested by a rash and other focal lesions in the mouth;
- any injuries and microtraumas in the oral cavity.
If you have dentures and fillings on your front teeth, you should not whiten the enamel, since dental materials do not react with lightening components, which is why the contrast between them and whitened teeth will be too noticeable to others.
Before using any bleaching product, you should make sure that there is no allergic or individual reaction to its components. To do this, you need to apply the drug to a small area of skin on the inside of the elbow, where the epidermis is most sensitive, and to the mucous membrane of the gums.
Express whitening methods
There are not many methods of teeth whitening at home approved by supporters of conservative medicine. They are all in varying degrees effective and aggressive.
Baking soda
Baking soda is a powerful cleaning agent that can even remove deposits on kitchen utensils. And for tooth enamel and adjacent gum tissues, this is “heavy artillery.” Therefore, it is permissible to clean enamel at home with soda only in rare and most extreme cases: when the result is needed immediately, and there are no milder cleaners in the house.
To make an effective bleach, you need to add a small amount of baking soda to toothpaste or divorce her plain water to a pulp state. It is not recommended to brush your teeth with this mixture using a brush, since such an effect is doubly harmful to the enamel.
You can apply soda slurry to your teeth with a cotton pad or gauze swab and leave it for a few minutes, then also gently and carefully remove it with cotton wool using strictly vertical movements and rinse your mouth well with warm water. It is advisable not to consume acidic foods within an hour after this procedure.
Activated carbon
Black charcoal powder can also provide fast teeth whitening. The property of attracting and absorbing various components has made activated carbon not only an indispensable gastrointestinal sorbent, but also an effective dental whitener.
The product is gentler than soda, but this does not mean that it can be used often and thoughtlessly. Whitening with activated carbon is unsafe, because when brushing your teeth with an abrasive substance, microscopic cracks and abrasions can form on the enamel, which tend to grow quickly. In addition, the brightening effect of charcoal bleaching, although clearly visible, lasts only 7-10 days, so this method is advisable to use only when urgently needed.
Home cleaning of enamel with charcoal can also be done without using a brush. The carbon tablet must be thoroughly crushed into powder without large grains that could scratch the surface to be cleaned. Then you should dilute the powder with water to obtain a mixture of paste-like consistency, carefully apply it to your teeth, hold for several minutes and rinse thoroughly.
To enhance the effect, crushed coal can be mixed with a small amount of baking soda.
Hydrogen peroxide
If the previous two abrasives act on dirt mechanically, then peroxide provides chemical cleaning of the enamel. The method of quickly whitening teeth using hydrogen peroxide is as close as possible to professional, since the cleansing compositions used in clinics contain the same component. As a result of the chemical reaction, not only the surface enamel is lightened, but also the deeper dental tissues.
To prepare the cleaning composition, a pharmacy 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide is mixed with soda instead of water. The result is a dual-action abrasive: on the one hand, it is extremely effective, but on the other, it is too aggressive for the teeth and everything that surrounds them. Like a mixture of soda and water, this product is applied to the teeth with a soft swab and also carefully removed.
A more gentle option for lightening the tooth surface with peroxide is rinsing the teeth, but for such a procedure it is permissible to use only a 1.5% solution, which will not cause a burn to the gum mucosa.
The big disadvantage of the method is that chemical reactions caused by the drug, occur not only on the surface of the tooth, but also inside the enamel and dentin. Due to frequent bleaching with hydrogen peroxide, dental tissues acquire a porous structure, dull appearance and become more vulnerable to external influences, including staining.
Essential oils
You should not expect quick results when using essential oils, but over the course of several months, their regular use can make your teeth noticeably brighter. Essential oils, unlike previous lightening agents, are good for gums, as they have bactericidal and strengthening properties, relieve inflammation and freshen breath.
Tea tree, grapefruit, lemon and orange oils are effective for lightening enamel. Essential oil tea tree should be dropped directly onto the toothbrush, thoroughly treat each tooth with it, leave for 15 minutes and rinse your mouth with regular warm water. Citrus oils are added to the water for rinsing (2-3 drops per glass), and the mouth is rinsed daily before bed.
Fruit acids
Teeth whitening with fruits does not happen quickly, but it is as safe as possible. But only if you follow moderation, because with prolonged and frequent exposure, food acids corrode fragile enamel.
What fruits help whiten enamel coating:
- Lemon. You need to rub the darkened teeth with the inner white pulp of the lemon peel, and then rinse your mouth with water. In addition to the peel, you can use lemon juice - both in pure form and as an additive for diluting soda.
- Strawberry. Apply the crushed strawberry pulp directly to the brush and brush your teeth with your usual movements, after which the mixture is washed off with water. After the procedure, it is imperative to brush your teeth well with regular toothpaste, preferably one containing fluoride.
- Banana. You should wipe your teeth with the inside of the peel of the tropical fruit for three minutes, and then rinse your mouth with warm water. The procedure can be used up to two times a week.
- Orange and laurel. First, the teeth are treated with the white pulp of orange peel, and then pre-prepared powder from bay leaves is applied to the enamel. Leave it on for five minutes and wash off.
Toothpastes
A good whitening paste will not quickly whiten your teeth, but it can be used to prevent yellowing and darkening of teeth that have already been cleaned of plaque. You can use such products no more than twice a week.
Effective lightening pastes:
- Lacalut White.
- President White Plus.
- Rembrandt "Antitobacco and coffee."
- Lacalut White & Repair.
Consolidation of the result after whitening
You cannot often resort to teeth whitening using folk remedies. Therefore, if you managed to quickly whiten your teeth without visiting a dental clinic, it is better to try to maintain the result.
At least in the first hours, but better than a day After whitening, when the dental tissue is still hypersensitive, you need to protect your teeth from anything that can stain them:
- coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate;
- bright vegetables, fruits and berries;
- drinks and confectionery with dyes;
- spices of rich colors.
For several days after the procedure, it is better to refrain from sour, salty or very sweet foods; the reaction to them can be painful. It is recommended to introduce neutral-tasting foods into the diet, which in addition strengthen dental tissues due to the content of calcium, fluorine, phosphorus and protein:
- chicken fillet;
- milk and dairy products, cheeses;
- White mushrooms;
- Fish and seafood;
- egg white;
- nuts;
- light fruits, vegetables and juices;
- white beans and other legumes;
- porridge from rice, semolina, pearl barley.
Despite the variety of methods for whitening the tooth surface and preventing its darkening, the most effective way to preserve the whiteness of teeth remains timely and regular visit dentist to examine the oral cavity, identify diseases on initial stages, professional removal of dental plaque and stones.
A perfect smile is a dream for many, but not everyone knows how to whiten teeth quickly at home. Achieving excellent results in high-quality lightening of tooth enamel is not at all difficult; there are modern safe methods of teeth whitening that do not require significant material costs and will take a minimum of time. Let's look at the most common teeth whitening products that really work, and try to figure out whether there might be an alternative to salon procedures for lightening tooth enamel.
So, first, let's start with conservative dental procedures that will restore a natural, dazzling smile, which has the pros and cons of this technique.
A professional dental teeth whitening procedure can be carried out in three ways: various techniques: chemical and laser cleaning, as well as photobleaching. Each of these methods of teeth whitening uses special chemicals, but the main one is hydrogen peroxide. In the first (chemical) version, the effect on the enamel takes place without the participation of a catalyst, but in the second case, the specific effect of the bleaching components is catalyzed by laser radiation, and in the latter - by ultraviolet light.
The whitening procedure is based on a special effect not on the enamel, which is absolutely transparent, but on the deep layers of multilayer tissue, which are called dentin. Actually, we see its shade through the enamel, it affects the color of our teeth. It is worth noting that dentin is not completely white, its surface is pigmented, the color range varies from light cream shades to richer yellows, sometimes dentin can be colored light gray or even slightly pinkish.
As a result of the salon procedure, you can get an instant result - the enamel becomes much lighter and the smile snow-white. Of course, in-salon whitening will make your smile dazzling, but not everyone can afford this method. But there is another way out - to use equally effective folk remedies at home.
Traditional methods
Whitening with folk remedies is sufficient in a good way. If you want to whiten yellowish enamel by several shades, you will definitely succeed. But it is worth noting that home remedies do not penetrate deep into the enamel, but act exclusively on its surface. With regular use of soda, activated carbon, tea tree oil and other natural ingredients, you can whiten your teeth no worse than the most expensive super-whitening products.
So, let's look at what are the most common methods of teeth whitening at home. Try and see how effective each one is. You may find your own best way to whiten your teeth.
Method No. 1 - Sodium bicarbonate (soda)
The recipe for teeth whitening using baking soda is extremely simple. Due to the fact that soda contains small abrasive particles, you can quickly and effectively whiten the enamel surface from plaque.
How the procedure is carried out:
- Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 100 ml of boiled water, stir everything thoroughly.
- After this, dip the brush in soda solution and start whitening the enamel. You can clean it in the usual way, after using the paste. Baking soda works quite well and will remove any remaining plaque.
- For 60 minutes after teeth whitening with soda, it is not recommended to smoke, drink caffeinated drinks, or eat food.
Here's how to easily whiten your teeth with baking soda.
Important: Soda powder should not be used undiluted as it can damage your enamel.
Method No. 2 – Sodium bicarbonate (soda) + 3% solution of H2O2 (peroxide)
If you want to carry out more effective teeth whitening at home, use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.
How the process works:
- Mix the two ingredients in equal parts, apply the resulting composition to the enamel, and lightly rub it in with your fingers. In this case, there is no need to use a brush.
- Wait a few minutes, rinse everything off with water. Teeth whitening with soda and peroxide is completed, this bleach is quite effective, you can immediately evaluate the result, you will be able to lighten the enamel by 1 or 2 tones.
It is necessary to ensure that the whitening composition does not get on the gums, as this will cause severe irritation.
Method No. 3 - 3% peroxide solution
The best teeth whitening products are at everyone's fingertips. It is quite easy to prepare a whitening base using affordable and ultra-effective products that are available in a home first aid kit. medical care. After all, not many people know how to whiten teeth with hydrogen peroxide, we will share this with you in a simple way.
Features of enamel care:
- Lightening enamel with regular 3% hydrogen peroxide at home will not be difficult. You can achieve a slight whitening effect. Only two components will be used - peroxide and pure water. You will need to mix them in a 1:1 ratio.
- Start by brushing first using a fluoride-free toothpaste. Then rinse your mouth with the prepared solution (teeth whitening with hydrogen peroxide is done by rinsing), and then with regular clean water.
- Carry out this procedure twice a day.
Now you know how to whiten your teeth using hydrogen peroxide.
Method No. 4 – Enterosorbent (activated carbon) tablets
The use of activated carbon is a fairly simple technique for caring for enamel. Activated carbon - natural product, it can be called safe means, which really whitens yellowish enamel while caring for it.
How to use:
- Before whitening teeth with activated carbon, a whitening paste is prepared. As a rule, the tablet is crushed and mixed with a portion of the paste, after which you can begin cleaning. Teeth whitening with activated carbon is no different from daily oral hygiene.
- You will immediately feel that this product is very effective, charcoal is an absorbent, it binds small particles of plaque and removes them. It is worth noting that this product does not contain whitening components, but it helps to quickly remove all plaque.
Teeth whitening with activated carbon at home takes only a few minutes; carry out the procedure until you get a visible result.
Method No. 5 – Aroma oil (tea tree essential oil)
Quick teeth whitening at home is possible if you use tea tree ether for this purpose. Antibacterial oil is a simple product that should be included in your home kit that is used for whitening.
Tea tree oil for teeth whitening is used without any additives. Here's how to whiten teeth using folk remedies, namely essential oil:
- First, brush your teeth with regular toothpaste.
- Then apply a couple of drops of aroma oil to the brush, treat the enamel for two minutes, and rinse your mouth. This product not only disinfected the mucous membranes, but also refreshed them well, so it can be considered an excellent solution for unpleasant smell, felt from the mouth.
Method number 6 – Banana peel
This enamel cleaning technique is incredibly simple. Banana peel can be a real salvation for many. This self-whitening teeth will not bring costs.
Features of the procedure:
- Gentle teeth whitening with banana peels begins with the fact that before this procedure, hygienic cleaning of the oral cavity is carried out as usual.
- Next take a small piece banana peel and rub the enamel for 3 minutes. Rub with the inside of the peel.
- After you have applied, or rather rubbed, such a whitening agent into your teeth, leave it on your teeth for another 5 minutes (preferably without closing your mouth), then clean them again using your usual paste.
- After some time, you will notice that using banana for whitening has given good results.
This is how you can naturally whiten your teeth without damaging the enamel. Now you know how to safely whiten your teeth at home using a banana. You may find your own best way to whiten your teeth. You just have to try.
Method #7 – Turmeric Powder
Do you know anything else that can be used to qualitatively lighten enamel, and what other products can be used? These are spices! Turmeric is a spice familiar to everyone and a fairly simple remedy that can easily whiten teeth at home without harm.
How to use:
- Prepare a special solution. You will need ground turmeric (4-5 g) and 20 ml of refined oil. Mix everything, you will get a paste-like mixture.
- Immediately before whitening your teeth, dip your brush in the resulting spicy mixture. Apply it over the enamel and clean as usual. This method allows for gentle whitening of sensitive teeth.
Tips for teeth whitening: to get instant results, just leave the composition on for no more than five minutes.
- All that remains is to rinse your mouth thoroughly. Now you know how to whiten your teeth at home in 5 minutes using turmeric.
Method No. 8 – Coconut oil
Here's how you can quickly whiten your teeth and freshen your breath at the same time. Take fresh green leaves, grind them to a paste, then apply to your teeth for 5-7 minutes.
Basil can refresh, whiten and make teeth healthier. It can be used regularly.
Method number 10 – Aloe vera
The best way to make your teeth shine at home is to use aloe juice or a store-bought gel from this plant. Lubricate your teeth with it and massage with a brush. Can be used after every brushing of teeth. After aloe, your teeth will become brighter and shinier.
To make your smile flawless, we suggest you take into account these tips for teeth whitening:
- Add baking soda to your regular toothpaste and you will achieve gentle, natural teeth whitening.
- Eat strawberries and apples more often. The natural acids contained in them perfectly remove plaque. This results in instant teeth whitening.
- Eliminate from your daily diet foods that can change the color of your enamel: caffeinated drinks, red wine, balsamic bite. Avoid eating a lot of vegetables with natural coloring ingredients.
- Rinse your mouth with a salt solution, and natural teeth whitening will be much better.
- Use an electric brush; it is much more effective than a regular brush in removing plaque from the enamel and preventing the formation of stone.
- Include hard cheeses in your menu - these are products for lightening enamel.
- Rinse your mouth with coconut oil, it prevents the enamel from staining and removes bacteria accumulated in the oral cavity.
- Treat yourself to popcorn, which is a cleaning product; it functions as a so-called cleaning sponge. Don't forget to rinse your mouth after using it.
- Chew gum after meals for easy oral hygiene without using a brush.
- Be sure to clean your tongue during your daily hygiene procedure, this way you will prevent the proliferation of bacteria.
Snow-white teeth are business card modern man, an indicator of his status and health. Some spend incredible amounts of money on visits to specialists in an effort to acquire a “Hollywood” smile, while others, using folk remedies, achieve almost the same results on their own.
Today we’ll talk about how to whiten teeth at home and which methods are the most effective.
The main enemies of a snow-white smile
Before we begin a detailed consideration of the available options for teeth whitening at home and choosing the one the best way, it is necessary to determine what exactly causes the formation of red plaque on the teeth. Depending on the root cause of its occurrence, one can judge the advisability of whitening procedures.
There are two groups of factors that influence the color of tooth enamel:
- Decreased immunity and general disruptions in the functioning of the human body. Yellowed enamel may be a sign of such clinical diseases as: disruption endocrine system, caries, infection of the oral cavity, endemic fluorosis, slowdown of metabolic processes.
- Wrong lifestyle and human nutrition culture. This group contains the “worst enemies” of a dazzling white smile, which include:
- nicotine;
- caffeine, strong tea, wine drinks;
- glucose;
- poor hygiene.
Get rid of pigmentation on teeth caused by smoking, drinking tea or coffee, overconsumption sweets, teeth whitening products prepared at home will help. And maintaining the resulting effect for as long as possible will ensure the abandonment of antisocial habits, healthy eating and daily oral care.
If the cause of yellowed enamel is not at all the harmful influence of factors from the second group, then a visit to the doctor is necessary and full examination body. This will make it possible to identify the source and carry out effective therapy, as a result of which it will be possible to consider options for how to whiten your teeth.
The main requirement to remember is Teeth whitening at home should be carried out only if you are completely confident in their health(no caries, external damage or chips, inflammatory processes, broken fillings, hypersensitivity, etc.). The best source of such information would be competent consultation with a specialist.
To future mothers and girls whose babies are on breastfeeding It’s also worth putting off such beauty procedures for a while. During pregnancy and lactation in female body There is a lack of calcium, which leads to thinning of the enamel. Any external influence can negatively affect the condition of teeth and even lead to their destruction, and the components included in whitening products can cause allergic reaction both for the child and for his mother.
Even in the absence of contraindications, any manipulation of teeth should be done with extreme caution, guided by the “golden rule” - do no harm.
Following simple recommendations will help you achieve amazing results without significant harm to your health:
- Avoid ingestion of bleaching agents, as well as their contact with the mucous membranes of the oral cavity;
- there must be moderation in everything. Do not use bleaching products more than one course (1-1.5 weeks) every few months;
- to avoid damaging the integrity of the enamel, use a vertical teeth brushing technique;
- don't let your teeth run. Daily hygiene and giving up bad habits will help maintain their whiteness, without the use of aggressive bleaching methods.
Let's look at the most popular and effective techniques, as well as little-known, but no less effective ways, with which you can quickly and carefully whiten your teeth at home.
Hydrogen peroxide - teeth whitening in one evening
The peroxide solution is a leader in terms of efficiency and reliability in the field of plaque removal. It is not for nothing that he acts as the main active substance, which is part of professional preparations used for teeth whitening. Peroxide activates on the surface of the teeth chemical processes, releasing atomic oxygen, leading to the destruction of enamel pigmentation from the outside and inside.
Bring back the whiteness of your smile with this pharmaceutical product can be done in two ways: rinsing and applying the solution to the tooth surface.
Rinsing
After cleansing the enamel in the morning with toothpaste, rinse your mouth with a diluted 3% peroxide solution in the ratio: 2 tablespoons per 1 glass of clean boiled water. Maximum time rinsing should not exceed 30 seconds. And the frequency of the procedure is once every two days.
Such rinses will not only help to gently whiten your teeth, but will also have an effective antibacterial effect.
Mechanical cleaning
Used to remove yellow plaque liquid solution peroxide in its pure form:
- soak a cotton pad/cotton swab in 3% hydrogen peroxide;
- Gently wipe the surface of the teeth on all sides with the liquid;
- After 1-3 minutes, rinse your mouth thoroughly with clean water.
Despite the fact that hydrogen peroxide is excellent for home teeth whitening up to 8 shades, it should be used with caution, since peroxide is a fairly strong oxidizing agent, and its frequent and prolonged use can lead to burns of the mucous membrane and damage to tooth enamel.
Gentle cleaning of teeth with baking soda
Sodium bicarbonate better known as baking soda- simple and effective remedy for teeth whitening, which is in every home.
Thanks to its abrasive properties, soda can lighten even the ingrained red plaque of a “smoker,” restoring the whiteness and aesthetic appearance of teeth.
The only drawback of the technique is the high probability of damage to the gums and enamel, therefore it is worth limiting its use to 1 time every 7 days.
Soda can be used either alone or in tandem with other active substances.
A Simple Recipe for Teeth Whitening Baking Soda Brushing Paste
- Dilute a tablespoon of baking soda in a small amount of warm water until a homogeneous substance is formed, its consistency reminiscent of toothpaste.
- Using a cotton swab, the resulting mixture is evenly distributed over the entire surface of the enamel.
- After 10 minutes, rinse your mouth well boiled water and brush your teeth with regular toothpaste.
Soda and toothpaste
You can remove plaque and give your smile a snow-white shine using a cleaning paste with the addition of a small amount of baking soda. After the procedure, do not forget to rinse your mouth thoroughly.
You can use this bleach 2 to 3 times a week. The result will become noticeable after a week and a half of using the mixture.
A recipe for when you need to whiten your teeth urgently
Everyone is familiar with situations when a dazzling white smile is needed “here and now” and there is simply no time to wait for the desired effect. There is no need to “rack your brains” over the question of how you can whiten your teeth at home in a short time. There is an exit!
Mix a small amount of soda in a 1:1 ratio with medium-sized salt. Add liquid 3% peroxide until a paste forms. Mix the resulting product with 1-2 drops of lemon juice.
Gently apply the mixture to the surface of the enamel and leave for 10-15 minutes. After the specified time has passed, rinse your mouth thoroughly with clean drinking water or.
Important: to avoid damaging the enamel and harming your health, use this type of procedure no more than once every 30 days.
How to lighten tooth enamel using activated carbon
Activated carbon is a safe and effective at-home teeth whitening solution. The potassium hydroxide crystals it contains are an excellent natural brightener that can lighten enamel up to two tones. And thanks to the smallest particles, A gruel made from coal can clean teeth from dirt in the most difficult to reach places.
There are several options for how to use activated carbon to whiten yellowed teeth at home:
- In a convenient container, crush the tablet to a powder. Add a little drinking water. Using the resulting substance, use a soft toothbrush or cotton pad to clean your teeth for 2-3 minutes. To avoid scratching the enamel, try to avoid strong friction. At the end of the whitening procedure, rinse your mouth thoroughly with drinking water or a liquid with a little soda added.
- Mix powdered charcoal with toothpaste until smooth. After that, brush your teeth with bleach. Finally, rinse your mouth with warm water.
The effectiveness of using charcoal as a bleaching agent has been proven for centuries. But don't expect the results to be immediate. The change in the color of tooth enamel will become noticeable only after 30 days.
The role of tea tree oil in tooth whitening
Considering everything possible options how to whiten teeth, special attention deserves tea tree oil. Despite the fact that it does not have a powerful whitening effect, the result of its use will be noticeable only after 3-4 weeks. Its systematic use can help lighten teeth yellowed by nicotine or food dyes by 1-2 shades. Which is also pretty good.
Tea tree oil not only removes unaesthetic plaque, making the smile more attractive, but also heals the oral cavity, eliminates bleeding gums, and relieves inflammation.
Let's look at ways to whiten teeth with this wonderful product:
- soak a cotton pad with oil and treat the surface of the tooth enamel;
- rinse your mouth with water and a few drops of apple cider vinegar;
- a solution of 5 drops of oil per ½ cup of boiled water is used as a daily rinse; the result after such treatment will be visible within a couple of weeks.
For teeth cleaning operations, a 100% concentration of oil is used. The procedure must be done once every four days.
During dental treatment, there may be discomfort, expressed in numbness of the lips, tongue or cheeks. Don't be afraid of this. After some time, sensitivity will return to normal.
Exotic teeth whitening products
In search of an answer to the question of what else can safely whiten your teeth, “inquiring minds” have tried many products, some of which have shown good results.
Whitening paste based on Turmeric
The host of his own video blog, Drew Canole from America, presented to the general public a unique method that allows you to make your teeth white and healthy, without professional cleaning and visits to the dentist.
The mixture proposed by the American contains only three components: turmeric, mint and coconut oil. Making a “miracle paste” is very simple: a teaspoon of turmeric powder is mixed with the same amount of coconut oil, and 2-3 drops of mint oil complete the preparation. Used as regular pasta for cleaning teeth.
The key advantage of the recipe from Drew Canola is its safety and possibility of daily use. Also, such a mixture has a very good lightening effect, saturates with vitamins, heals gums and oral mucosa, destroys harmful bacteria and freshens breath.
It will be useful to watch a video that explains in detail how to properly whiten teeth using the above method:
Coconut oil
Coconut oil has a gentle effect on tooth enamel, destroys ingrained pigment, gradually returning your smile to its whiteness. Useful material contained in the oil have antiseptic properties.
Let's figure out how to properly whiten darkened teeth at home using coconut oil:
- a teaspoon of oil is placed in the mouth and gradually dissolves over 15 minutes;
- After the time has passed, the mouth should be rinsed with warm water.
This procedure does not harm human health, so it can be performed up to 4 times a week.
Strawberry scrub
Scientists have proven that the composition of the “sweet berry” includes salicylic acid, which is an excellent remedy for whitening darkened teeth at home. The berry has a destructive effect on the yellow pigment of the enamel, thereby lightening its color.
It’s very easy to prepare a sweet mask for your teeth from strawberries: grind the berries and apply the resulting pulp to the enamel for 10 minutes. When the time is up, just brush your teeth with regular toothpaste.
To enhance the effect, you can additionally use baking soda. To do this, a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate is diluted with a small amount of liquid. At the stage between finishing the smile brightening with strawberries and cleansing the oral cavity, an additional soda mixture is applied to the teeth. The peculiarity of this method is strict adherence to the sequence of actions.
A magical cocktail for a dazzling smile can be made at home from strawberries, salt and soda:
- Mix 3 berries, mashed to form a puree, with a pinch of salt and half a teaspoon of soda;
- Before the procedure, clean your teeth with regular toothpaste;
- use a napkin to remove saliva from the surface of the enamel;
- brush your teeth with massaging movements and then leave the scrub for 5 minutes;
- rinse your mouth with water.
Procedures using a scrub should be done no more than once every 1-2 months.
Banana, orange or tangerine peel
After a small snack, do not rush to throw away your banana or orange peel. These ingredients can brighten your teeth well. To do this, thoroughly rub the peel on the enamel for 2-3 minutes, then simply rinse your mouth with water.
Professional methods
Among the means for professional whitening Teeth that can be used independently are in greatest demand:
Summing up or which whitening agent is best for dealing with yellowed teeth
To determine the winner, it is necessary to identify the criteria according to which the “best of the best” will be selected:
- Availability and ease of use.
- High performance.
- Safety.
Of the whitening methods discussed above, coconut oil most fully meets the stated criteria. It not only copes with its task perfectly and returns shine and whiteness to teeth, but is also absolutely safe for human health. Anyone can purchase it at a pharmacy or order it online.
Afterword: how to maintain a dazzling white smile
Regardless of the method you choose for whitening tooth enamel, special attention is required preventive measures, Without which snow-white smile risks being hidden again behind a yellow veil of plaque. To prevent this from happening, follow the “golden” rules:
- Oral hygiene should be carried out at least twice daily - in the morning and in the evening.
- Consumption harmful products containing a coloring pigment (strong tea, coffee, etc.) should be kept to a minimum.
- Systematic consultation with a dentist.
- To give up smoking.
A snow-white smile looks very beautiful, but not every person has it. Therefore in modern world Teeth whitening is considered a popular procedure, and it can be done at home. Of course, the effect in this case will not be the same as in a beauty salon, but it will be much cheaper. The main rule in this procedure is to do no harm. Let's take a closer look at how you can whiten your teeth at home?
Who needs teeth whitening?
The color of tooth enamel can change depending on various reasons, for example, it is affected by smoking or excessive coffee consumption. In addition, careless brushing of teeth done hastily leads to this. After thorough cleaning, there should be no food residue left on the enamel, which contributes to its yellowing and the formation of stones. So in what cases and for whom is teeth whitening absolutely necessary?
Smoking and excessive consumption of sweets
Everyone knows that tobacco smoke contains a large amount of substances that can settle and penetrate into tooth enamel, contributing to the appearance of dark plaque. Whitening pastes do not always cope with this problem, so the resulting plaque often remains on the teeth. Thanks to the at-home whitening procedure, they acquire their natural color, but if a person is unable to get rid of this bad habit, then all your efforts will be in vain.
The oral cavity is home to quite a few microorganisms. The intake of easily digestible carbohydrates in large quantities contributes to their active release of waste products that begin to corrode the surface of the teeth, which causes thinning of the enamel. The base (dentin), which has a natural yellow color, can be seen through it.
Drinking strong tea and coffee
The whiteness of teeth often disappears among those who drink drinks that contain natural coloring substances. The enamel quickly darkens if you regularly drink black tea, coffee, or red wine, which contribute to the formation of a persistent brown tint on its surface.
Ingestion of tetracycline and fluorine compounds in large quantities
"Tetracycline" teeth have a yellowish color and they are formed in childhood or tetracycline, which the woman took during pregnancy during the formation of tooth buds, contributes to such a shade of enamel.
So-called speckled teeth occur if fluoride has been ingested into the body for a long time due to poor quality nutrition, water, and polluted atmosphere. The disease is called fluorosis, as a result of which yellowness also appears on the surface of the enamel.
Underdevelopment of dental tissues
This defect, called hypoplasia, appears on the teeth as yellowish spots of the same size, with clear outlines. When talking or smiling, they are very noticeable, so such spots are bleached or filled.
In what cases should you not whiten your teeth?
It's better to refuse from your desire to whiten tooth enamel in the following cases:
What you need to know when whitening your teeth at home?
Typically, the bleaching procedure is similar to the process of bleaching hair and also does not provide health benefits. Therefore, the main task when using any products at home is to do no harm. Before you carry out the whitening procedure yourself, you must consult a dentist regarding the strength of the enamel. The resulting yellowness must be on its surface, otherwise the whitening methods used will not bring the expected result.
If you have a strong desire to whiten your teeth at home, you should make sure that there are no pathologies of periodontal tissue:
- periodontal;
- gums;
- alveolar processes.
After the whitening procedure, it is not recommended to smoke or consume foods that can change the color of the enamel. To maintain a white tint, special whitening pastes should be used. This procedure is repeated after several months.
Using whitening strips
How to quickly whiten teeth at home? For this purpose, use special strips with brightening composition. It will not be difficult to find an option on sale that is designed for sensitive teeth.
The strips are used as follows: they are applied to tooth enamel every day for 30 minutes. The smile will be snow-white for about two months, after which the enamel begins to darken again. At the very beginning of using the strips, the sensitivity of the enamel may increase, but this condition passes very quickly.
You can also whiten your teeth with more expensive varieties of such strips, which are tightly fixed, which allows you to talk on the phone during the process. The effectiveness of the procedure lasts up to one and a half years, while teeth are brightened by a maximum of 6 tones. The disadvantage of using such strips is that they cannot be used between teeth.
Whitening gels and pencil
You can whiten your teeth quickly and effectively at home using a special gel, applied with a brush to their surface. As it hardens, it begins to gradually dissolve and is washed off with saliva.
Another way to whiten with a gel is to use a tray, which is plastic construction, which is placed on the lower or upper row of teeth, and the free space is filled with gel. The mouthguard is necessary for tight contact with the surface of the tooth, and it does not allow the gel to get on the mucous membrane.
Homemade hydrogen peroxide-based whitening gels are quite effective, but they can burn your gums and erode your enamel. Therefore, it is best to use gels based on carbamide peroxide. This the method is considered fast, since the effect appears within two weeks.
You can whiten your teeth without damaging the enamel using a special pencil. This product resembles a gel and is applied with a brush and removed after a while. There are other types of whitening stick that do not need to be removed and are dissolved by saliva. Thanks to this product, you get rid of cigarette stains, coffee or tea stains.
Using hydrogen peroxide and baking soda
You can whiten your teeth with hydrogen peroxide, which considered fast and efficient a way to remove dark plaque from enamel. This substance is included in many household bleaches. The procedure using hydrogen peroxide is quite simple:
- clean the oral cavity;
- dilute 20–30 drops of hydrogen peroxide (3%) in 0.5 glasses of water and rinse the mouth;
- Using a cotton swab, carefully wipe each tooth on both sides with undiluted peroxide;
- Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water.
With this procedure, the result is achieved quite quickly. It is recommended to use it 1-2 times a day, otherwise you can damage the enamel and get your gums burned.
To whiten teeth, use soda, which allows you to remove the resulting plaque using a fine abrasive substance. To do this, apply soda to gauze and wipe the surface of the tooth with it. But this method has disadvantages - the likelihood of gum damage and excessive thinning of the enamel.
Use of activated carbon
You can whiten your teeth with activated carbon. To do this, place the tablet in a saucer and knead thoroughly to form a homogeneous composition reminiscent of tooth powder, since large particles can scratch the enamel. Place this mixture on a damp toothbrush and brush your teeth. This method will not quickly whiten your teeth, but the effect will definitely come after some time. This method is recommended to be used 2-3 times a month.
Whitening teeth with lemon
Everyone knows that lemon contains a large amount ascorbic acid
, which is necessary for the functioning of bone and connective tissue. In addition, it is very useful not only for the health of the gums, but also for the entire body.
The easiest way to whiten teeth with lemon is to rub the enamel with a slice of this fruit. After this, the mouth is thoroughly rinsed to remove any remaining ascorbic acid. It is useful to add a few drops of lemon juice to toothpaste, which not only brightens your teeth, but also relieves gums from bleeding. To clean the interdental spaces and get rid of plaque, you should chew a lemon wedge along with the peel. It is recommended to whiten your teeth with lemon once a week.
Thus, whitening teeth at home is quite simple and effective. For these purposes they are used various methods, many of which bring results quite quickly. Do not forget that for some people there are contraindications for such a procedure, so before whitening your teeth yourself, you should consult a doctor.
