We all know someone whose smile seems to light up the world when he or she walks into a room. A bright, joyful smile makes us feel good whether we’re the one smiling or we’re looking at someone else’s smile. The latter usually makes us feel like smiling, too. Smiling is contagious! We might be a bit less likely to show our pearly whites to the world if they’re not so pearly. There are three very unexpected ways you can whiten teeth.
What you eat and drink each day, as well as your brushing habits, affect your teeth and gums in many ways. To whiten teeth, lots of people nowadays spend oodles of money on bleaching procedures at the dentist’s office or invest in other products that claim to whiten and brighten better than the rest. Here are three unique ways to whiten teeth. Let us know if you try them!
Use olive oil to whiten teeth
Olive oil is good for your health, although you’ll want to avoid using it to fry foods to high heat temperatures because then it becomes not so healthy. Using it raw on salads or for dipping pita breads, etc., is super good for your health. You might be surprised to learn that you can also use olive oil to whiten teeth!
To try this teeth-whitening method, simply massage your gums with olive oil every day for approximately 10 minutes at a time. People who do this say it reduces plaque and discoloration more than 50% after several weeks of use. It seems the oil deters bacteria from clinging to teeth and gums.
Chew raisins to get a whiter smile
When you think of raisins, you think of sticky, sugary sweetness, right? Chewing on sticky, sweet foods typically equals a tooth and gum disaster. However, raisins happen to be uber good for your health. Because they are high in nutrients, chewing them every day helps reduce bacterial growth. Eating 1/4 cup of raisins each day is also said to produce saliva that strengthens teeth, which, in turn makes them more stain-resistant. Who knew you could whiten teeth with raisins?
Whiten teeth by rubbing strawberries on
If you love strawberries, you might use them in smoothies, salads, eat them raw or dip them in melted chocolate. Have you ever brushed your teeth with them, though? Well, you don’t exactly brush your teeth with them. If you want to whiten teeth, you can vigorously rub them down with the outsides of strawberries. It has been known to remove stains and dirt.
You can read about other natural ways to whiten teeth in this article.
I often make my own toothpaste using organic non-fractionated coconut oil, baking soda and spearmint oil. It tastes great and is much healthier than store-bought toothpaste that is typically loaded with fluoride, which is NOT good for your health. I’ve also used hydrogen peroxide mixed with a little baking soda to brighten teeth, as well. There IS such a thing as too much of a good thing, however. If you overuse baking soda, it can wear down the enamel on your teeth, so use it in moderation.
Have you discovered a natural way or a store-brought product that helps whiten teeth? Tell us about it by leaving a comment under this post on our Hot Mess Press Facebook Page!
