Everyone deserves a beautiful smile, and at the office of Dr. Charles C. Harrington, we're proud to help patients throughout Gaithersburg, North Potomac, and the surrounding areas achieve one through
quality orthodontic treatment. But we recognize that the alignment of your teeth is just one aspect of your smile: equally important is the whiteness of your teeth. If you're looking for a simple way to achieve a whiter smile without expensive treatments, we've got you covered. These DIY teeth whitening remedies make it easy to whiten your teeth at home.
Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is a traditional Indian folk remedy used to improve oral hygiene and remove toxins from the body, but you can also use it to whiten your teeth. Essentially, the process involves swishing oil around your mouth to remove bacteria and other contaminants. While sesame and sunflower oil both work for oil pulling, coconut oil contains lauric acid, which reduces inflammation and kills bacteria. All you need to do is take a tablespoon of coconut oil and swish it around your mouth for about 15 to 20 minutes. Done daily, oil pulling can help improve your oral health and whiten your teeth.
Avoid What Causes Stains
As is the case in many aspects of health, when it comes to whiter teeth and oral hygiene, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. One of the best ways to achieve a whiter smile is to avoid foods and drinks that cause stains. This means limiting dark liquids like coffee, tea, red wine, and soda, as well as strongly-colored foods like tomato sauce, turmeric, or dark berries.
Use a Baking Soda & Strawberry Paste
Another way to boost the whiteness of your teeth is to brush them with a paste made from baking soda and strawberries. Baking soda is a mild abrasive that removes stains and kills bacteria, while strawberries contain malic acid that can help alleviate discoloration. Simply mash up one fresh strawberry with baking soda until it creates a paste, then use that to brush your teeth.
Contact Your Gaithersberg, MD Family Orthodontist
We hope these simple, DIY whitening remedies help you achieve a brighter, whiter, and healthier smile. And if you're looking to truly revitalize your smile by pursuing orthodontic treatment, we'd be happy to help. Our practice regularly helps patients of all ages in Gaithersburg, Kentlands/Lakelands, and North Potomac achieve gorgeous new smiles through convenient orthodontic treatment. Want to see how we can help you?
Contact us today!