The best way to keep your teeth white is to brush twice daily for a full two minutes, floss daily, and schedule regular dental cleanings. However, there are other actions you can take to prevent yellowing and staining, and plenty of ways to whiten your teeth. But do natural remedies for white teeth work? Read on to learn more.
What Causes Yellow or Stained Teeth?
It’s vital to state that yellowed teeth can be perfectly healthy teeth, even if they are not bright white. Even those who practice exceptional oral hygiene may experience yellowing of the teeth over time.This is because there is a genetic component to your teeth color. For example, some people may inherit thicker, whiter tooth enamel, while others may inherit more transparent tooth enamel, revealing the dentin beneath the enamel which is a deep yellow-brownish color.
Moreover, there are other factors that you cannot control when it comes to the color of your teeth. These include yellowing due to aging, staining due to medications, underlying health conditions, or chemotherapy for cancer.
Other leading causes of stained or yellow teeth include poor oral hygiene, and lack of oral health care. Unfortunately, stains stick to dental plaque. So, if you’re not brushing and flossing regularly, and seeing the dentist for cleanings twice yearly, that plaque is building up on the teeth, practically inviting stains.
Finally, your diet, and habits contribute to staining and yellowing. Beverages such as coffee, wine, tea, soda, and bright colored juices and sports drinks can yellow the teeth. Smoking and smokeless tobacco use also cause discoloration in the teeth.
Do Natural Remedies for Whiter Teeth Work?
There are plenty of websites, blogs, and social media posts that promise to whiten your teeth naturally. Unfortunately, most of them do not work. Worse, some of them can cause more harm than good.
Baking soda and activated charcoal, though frequently touted as natural whitening products, are both abrasive agents. Over time, they may wear away the enamel, revealing the yellow dentin beneath, therefore making your teeth look worse.
Citrus or fruit peeling products contain acid. In small doses, such as when eating fruits, this acid is perfectly safe. However, rubbing acid on your teeth can lead to enamel erosion, ultimately weakening and discoloring the teeth.
Oils and spices are unlikely to cause significant damage to the teeth, though both may cause an upset stomach if swallowed. However, there is no evidence that oils or spices whiten the teeth, despite claims.
Dental Treatments That Work for Whiter Teeth
The single best way to get whiter teeth is to see a dentist for a custom-made dental-grade take-home whitening kit. Dental grade whitening kits will whiten your natural teeth, although they will not whiten any dental restorations you have.
If you have dental restorations such as fillings or crowns, you should talk with your dentist about other options that can give you a whiter smile. For example, porcelain dental crowns can also be used in a cosmetic application to reveal a brighter, whiter smile. Cosmetic dental bonding can also give you a whiter smile. Microabrasion can remove dark spots and stains on the teeth.
For a permanent solution, you may also consider porcelain dental veneers.
Whitening toothpaste, strips, or other products available at your local pharmacy that contain the ADA Seal are also safe to use at home for whitening. However, they contain lower concentrations of active whitening agents, so they will whiten your teeth a bit, but not as much as a professional-grade take-home whitening kit from your dentist.
Book a Cosmetic Dental Consultation in Framingham
If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your smile, Metrowest Prosthodontics in Framingham, MA is here to help. Our team of prosthodontists, cosmetic, restorative, and general dentists provide comprehensive oral health care, including dental implants, teeth whitening, bonding, Invisalign and all other treatments that improve the appearance of the teeth and smile. To book an appointment call 508-620-6622, or send us a message.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you accept financing for cosmetic dental treatments?
Yes. We are happy to accept CareCredit and the Citi Health Card to allow you to pay for your treatments over time with low monthly payments.
Do I need a dental cleaning before whitening my teeth?
It is not required, but whitening your teeth after your cleaning may produce the best results. During your dental cleaning, plaque is removed, which allows the whitening agents to work best, as plaque doesn’t prevent them from bleaching the teeth.