We are living in the midst of an unprecedented crisis, which has changed our lives and what we used to consider normal. Overnight, we have had to stock up on supplies, avoid contact with others, and prepare for stay at home for an unforeseeable number of days. Covid-19 can be considered as the biggest threat that we have lived through and even continue to reel under at the moment. In a public health emergency such as now, the lack of a vaccine has made us wary of stepping outside and with lockdowns imposed countrywide, it has been difficult for us to go about our normal day-to-day lives.

Home Remedies for Tooth Whitening

While the need for medical professionals has surged drastically in the fight against the novel coronavirus, any non-emergency procedure has been put on hold, while we continue to heal from the present crisis. In such a time, many individuals who relied on dentists and dental hygienists for oral check-ups and dental cleanings at regular intervals have found themselves looking for alternatives for the moment. While a professional dental cleaning is the best way to keep your pearly whites in proper shape, there are various innovative ways which you can adopt for the moment, and practice proper dental hygiene at home.

Here are some home remedies that you can practice:

1. Give oil pulling a try:

Oil pulling is a traditional method of naturally whitening your teeth. It is a great way to improve one’s oral hygiene and also to remove the toxins from one’s body. Oil pulling involves swishing some oil around your mouth, with an aim to remove harmful bacteria, which is the leading cause for plaque, which, in turn, makes your teeth appear yellowish in colour. While there are many different yes of oil available for the procedure, one of the favourites amongst practitioners of such a method is coconut oil. Coconut oil is popular because of its many health benefits.

With regular oil pulling, you can hope to see better results for your teeth. It is a completely           safe procedure and doing this every day for 15-20 minutes can be quite beneficial. Compared to other methods, which expose your teeth to harmful acids and erode the enamel, oil pulling is a significant change and can be safe to be practiced on a daily basis.

2. Using baking soda:

If you look at the ingredients in a regular toothpaste you use, you will most likely find baking soda to be an active ingredient in it. This is because baking soda is said to have natural whitening properties. Any sort of persistent stain on your tooth that refuse to go can be easily removed with the help of baking soda. In addition to that, baking soda also helps to prevent the bacteria from growing inside your mouth. While the result will not be overnight, daily brushing with baking soda will help you achieve whiter and brighter teeth over time.

3. Brushing with hydrogen peroxide:

Hydrogen peroxide is a popular natural bleaching agent, which is known to kill the bacteria in your mouth. But while hydrogen peroxide is quite popular an ingredient in commercial toothpastes available in the market, it is to be used in highly diluted quantities in order for it to be safely used. You will find drugstores offering mouthwashes, with a 1-3% concentration of hydrogen peroxide in them. This can be safely used twice in a day in order to keep germs away and maintain proper dental hygiene.

Another way for you to use hydrogen peroxide is by mixing it with some quantity of baking soda to make a paste and then use it on your teeth. A healthy combination would be mixing 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and using this paste to brush your teeth every day. The results can be significant in making your teeth appear whiter than before.

4. Include vegetables and fruits in your diet:

A diet that is rich in vegetables and fruits is very good both for your body as well as your mouth. Raw fruits and vegetables help in the removal of plaque from the teeth, given that they can rub the plaque away while chewing. Fruits such as pineapples and strawberries are also known to help whiten the teeth significantly. Over time, you are sure to see that your teeth appear brighter and whiter than before.

There are many proponents who suggest making a paste of baking soda and fruits like strawberries or pineapples. This mixture can be used to brush your teeth. While it is not sure whether such a method can significantly help improve the appearance of the teeth, you can surely give it a try and see the results for yourself. While it might work in the removal of stains from the teeth, it does help in exfoliating the teeth surface.

5. Floss and brush regularly:

When it comes to maintaining your oral hygiene, brushing and flossing appropriately will always be the best form of hygiene. You can prevent the build-up of plaque in your teeth significantly and as such help to keep your teeth white and bright. Even though doing both of the processes can be a bit time-consuming, the benefits far outweigh the effort that is needed for brushing and flossing.

When undertaking the process, it is necessary to reach in every corner of your mouth and follow the proper directions that will, in turn, help in the proper cleaning of the teeth and gums. One also needs to do this routinely twice every day, and use a clean and sterilised brush and flossing material for the procedure to show appropriate results.

While you can try out one or all of the teeth whitening methods mentioned above in the persisting lockdown period to keep your teeth clean and white, there are also some habitual changes that you can introduce in your daily life, which will, in turn, help to keep your teeth white and shinning. Some of the things that you can change involve:

• Not smoking or reducing the amount of tobacco you consume:Tobacco stains are a major contributing factor in the teeth stains and staying away from tobacco products, or limiting their use can be quite beneficial in removing the stains from your teeth and also maintaining proper hygiene. Staying away from tobacco will also be good for your overall health as well.
• Limiting the amount of food that leave stains, such as caffeinated beverages such as tea and coffee, and red wine: Brushing your teeth immediately after having such beverages can be an efficient way to keep away the stains from your teeth. You could also try to drink the beverages with the help of a straw in order to avoid contact with your teeth. While it is not necessary that you cut back on consuming these items, you can limit their intake in order to keep your teeth healthy.
• Limiting the intake of sugar: If you consume a diet that is rich in sugar, there is a high chance that you will be prone to dental problems like plaque and gingivitis. In order to avoid these risks, it is necessary that you immediately brush after having sugary food items to avoid plaque build-up.

Until it is possible for everyone to step out like before and undertake everyday activities, it is unlikely that you will be able to se your dentists for tooth whitening services. Therefore, the above-mentioned methods can serve as quite useful in a time like this. While they can never be a replacement for professional teeth whitening treatments and oral check-ups, for now that is the best option to undertake. After it is possible for dental clinics to resume non-emergency procedures across the country, we can look forward to services offered by dental clinics in Hamilton. For tooth whitening Hamilton has quite a few reputed clinics offering the services, which you can check out after the lockdown is over and normal activity resumes.