5 Super Easy Remedies For A Brighter Smile

Cause you can't pout in EVERY picture.

Posted on

26 April 2017

image credit: Pinterest

Coffee, tea, red wine and soda — what do these beverages have in common (apart from being highly addictive)? They all can make your pearly white smile stained and yellow over time.

And do we really need to tell you the importance of a swashbuckling smile?

White teeth aren’t just a tick on beauty wish list but also a sure shot confidence booster. They are your gateway to wearing ANY lip colour you want. And most importantly, they let you do a LOT more than pout in every selfie.

Sure, you can always head to the posh dentist to get an airbrushed smile or you can experiment with hundreds of whitening products, but before you do all that — take a peek in your pantry, there are a few natural ingredients that will fix a dingy smile.

Scroll down to see which one does the trick for you.

1. Use activated charcoal with regular tooth brush

Yes, the pitch black paste will make you look like an absolutely terrifying Halloween character and NO, you can’t use the coal you do your BBQ-ing with.

Instead, buy safe-for-consumption (a reheated, oxidised version) from any health store, mix it with your regular toothbrush and rinse thoroughly.

This messy hack works because activated charcoal has a highly absorbent porous substance that works against things that stain teeth and leave them yellow or brown.

2. Swish some coconut oil

This ayurvedic technique basically requires swishing one tablespoon of oil (sesame, coconut, sunflower, or olive), pulling it through your teeth, for 20 minutes a day. After that, spit out the oil and rinse your mouth with clean water.

These over the counter oils not only break down stains on the teeth and loosen plaque, but they also detoxify the mouth and eliminate bacteria and toxins that dampen your confidence and hide your gorgeous smile.

3. Give them a good salt and lemon scrub

Lemon and oranges are known for their acidic properties that detoxify our system. This family of fruits can also work wonders for your teeth. The next time you eat one of these juicy babies — save the peel.

Put a pinch of salt and give your teeth a good scrub. You can take it up a notch by mixing a tablespoon of lemon juice with baking soda and rubbing it on your teeth.

But be careful, ALWAYS give your mouth a thorough rinse afterwards to avoid any enamel decaying.

4. Dip your toothbrush in baking soda.

Here's a good news: The most tried-and-tested of all homemade teeth whitening hacks is also the cheapest! All it takes is a toothbrush full of safe to consume bio-carbonated soda.

The easily available ingredient has natural whitening properties and a mildly abrasive texture that can help scrub away surface stains on teeth.

And that's not all, regular use of baking soda creates an alkaline environment in your mouth, which prevents bacteria from growing.

5. Rub apple cider vinegar with a linen cloth

We all know how effective ACV (apple cider vinegar) is for weight loss (even JLO uses it!) But did you know this superfood ingredient can also be your teeth saviour?

ACV effectively works as a natural antibiotic and teeth/gum cleanser - especially for removing stains due to common culprits like coffee and nicotine (smoking).

To use it as a mouthwash, dilute it with water and swish it around in your mouth for several minutes. Make sure to rinse your mouth with plain water afterwards.