How to whiten your teeth at home

"A dazzling pair of pearly whites." That is an envy off all if not what a majority of us crave to get. But dentists are expensive and the  thought of walking into their offices throws us into a horrific PTSD trip.

So to my non-dentist lovers, here are ways to whiten your teeth at home:

1. Bicarbonate of soda

Bicarbonate of soda has natural whitening properties, it's a mild abrasive that can help scrub away surface stains on teeth. Additionally, it creates an alkaline environment in your mouth, which prevents bacteria from growing. This is not an overnight remedy, rather you should notice a difference in the appearance of your teeth over time.

You can add a few sprinkles of bicarbonate to your toothpaste a few times a week. Don’t go heavy handed on it as the abrasiveness when overdone may cause damage to the enamel.

2. Activated charcoal

Activated charcoal is a finely milled black powder made from coconut shells, bone char, olive pits, coal, sawdust, or other materials. The charcoal is processed with high heat, which “activates” it. Because activated charcoal has toxin-binding properties, it’s often used as an emergency poison treatment. Using activated charcoal on your teeth is effective in absorbing plaque and other compounds that stain teeth. Thus whitening your teeth.

You can smear the activated charcoal on your teeth then proceed to brush them. You will require to rinse out thoroughly so as to avoid the black specs getting stuck in the crevices of your teeth.

3. Coconut Oil

Use coconut oil to whiten your teeth through a process known as oil pulling. Oil pulling is a traditional Indian folk remedy meant to improve oral hygiene and remove toxins from the body. The practice involves swishing oil around in your mouth to remove bacteria, which can turn into plaque and cause your teeth to look yellow

Take a tablespoon of coconut and put it in your mouth. Swish it around for around 5 minutes and spit the oil into the toilet or bin. Don’t spit the oil in the sink, it will clog your drainage pipes. Repeat this every day and in time you will see a remarkable difference.

4. Turmeric Powder

Turmeric is the gift that keeps on giving. The yellow powder has said to have the whitening properties as activated charcoal and bicarbonate of soda. The curmin in the turmeric is an anti-inflammation agent that protects the gums better than a regular mouthwash.

Smear turmeric powder on your teeth then proceed to brush your them. You can also sprinkle some of the powder on top of your toothpaste every day. Just like the other remedies, the results don’t show overnight but will take some time.