Learn How to Whiten Teeth Naturally At Home

I’m a coffee drinker, which comes as no surprise since I run a coffee shop. And since I drink a significant amount of coffee, and tea as well, my teeth are NOT white. I’ve tried all kinds of whitening toothpastes and whitening strips. Most of them don’t work and leave my teeth sensitive to heat and cold.

I decided that natural whitening treatments were the way to go! Here are some natural methods I used to learn how to whiten teeth naturally:

How to Whiten Teeth Naturally

Keep in mind that some of these methods contain acids that shouldn’t be left on your teeth for very long, and some are abrasive or have a funky taste. You can adjust most all of these to suit your needs.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is antibacterial and antimicrobial. By using coconut oil as a medium for oil pulling, you can kill the bacteria in your mouth and lighten your teeth at the same time. It may take a few weeks before you see results. Check out 10 Oil Pulling Benefits and How to Get Started.

Strawberries

Mash some fresh strawberries and use this as a scrub before you use your regular toothpaste. The natural fruit acids in strawberries, such as malic acid, can help lighten teeth. Do this no more than twice a week.

Orange Essential Oil

Add orange essential oil to your toothpaste, or make your own! Orange essential oil is thought to help lighten the color of your teeth through the citric acid in the oil. It is also naturally antibacterial. (Find pure, organic sweet orange essential oil here.)

Lemon Peel

Like orange oil, lemon peel contains citric acid. The inner part of the peel also contains malic acid, which can help remove stains on teeth. Rub the inner part of the lemon peel on your teeth for about two minutes, then brush as usual. You can do this twice a week. More than that can increase sensitivity in your mouth.

Turmeric Powder

Turmeric powder can also help lighten the color of your teeth. It is naturally antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, which can also help with inflamed gums. Dip your toothbrush into the powder and brush for about 2-3 minutes. Rinse well and follow with your regular toothpaste. This can also be done twice a week. I don’t like the flavor of turmeric, so I combine it with orange essential oil to enhance the flavor. (Find organic turmeric root powder here.)

Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal, even though it is black, can actually help whiten teeth naturally. It seems counterintuitive, but charcoal is known for its ability to pull toxins out of things. Stains on your teeth are no different. Dip your toothbrush into activated charcoal powder, brush on your teeth, and leave for a few minutes. Rinse well and follow with your regular toothpaste. (Find activated charcoal powder here.)

Since charcoal is more abrasive than some things you would normally use, do this only once a week. Surprisingly, charcoal has no flavor, but you can use orange or peppermint essential oil to help make it more flavorful.

Mint Leaves

You all know I love my mint! Here’s another way to use it. Crush fresh mint leaves and brush with them. The antibacterial properties of the mint will help to remove stains from your teeth and freshen your breath. Any kind of mint will work – chocolate mint is my favorite!

Banana Peel

Like lemon peel, the inner part of the banana peel contains malic acid. Rub this on your teeth for two minutes twice a week, then throw your peel in the compost.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Make a solution of 1 part ACV and 2 parts water. Swish this around in your mouth for 2-3 minutes, then spit it out. Rinse and brush as usual. ACV has strong fruit acids which can help whiten teeth, but only use this once a week. If you make your own apple cider vinegar, you may want to dilute it even more, like 1:10, since homemade ACV is usually very strong.

Baking Soda and Lemon

Make a paste of baking soda and lemon juice. It will likely fizz and foam a bit. Wait for it to settle down and use this solution to brush your teeth. Rinse well. You don’t need to follow with your regular toothpaste, but you can if you wish. Lemon juice contains citric acid, so it can damage your teeth if used too often. Only do this once a week for best results.

DIY Natural Whitening Toothpaste

There are a number of DIY toothpaste recipes out there, like this one. I formulated one with a few of my favorite natural whitening ingredients:

Ingredients

• ¼ cup baking soda
• ¼ cup coconut oil
• 2 teaspoons activated charcoal or turmeric powder
• 4-5 drops sweet orange essential oil

Method

Mix all of this together to make a paste. Use this once a week to brush your teeth.

Additional Tips for Whitening

Some other things you can do to help lighten teeth are:

• Lessen the amount of dark beverages you drink, like coffee, tea and cola.
• Eat crunchy vegetables like carrots, celery, turnips, and even jicama.
• Always rinse your mouth with a little water after drinking things like coffee and tea.

Whitening your teeth doesn’t have to be done with chemicals. You can do it naturally!

Check out even more ideas and recipes for whitening teeth naturally in these DIY Natural articles:

• DIY Whitening Tooth Powder for Non-Toxic Brushing
• Whiten Teeth Naturally With Activated Charcoal
• 10 Oil Pulling Benefits and How to Get Started

*******