Tea, coffee, grape juice… Many foods can stain teeth, turn them yellow or damage them. Discover how to have healthier and whiter teeth naturally!
The lemon
In addition to having many health benefits, lemon is also an ally that allows you to have whiter teeth. The citric acid it contains helps to fight against tartar, that is to say the thickening of dental plaque, partly responsible for the yellowing of teeth. In addition, tartar can be the cause of dental caries, gum diseases such as gingivitis or periodontitis, as well as bad breath.
How to use lemon?
Gently brush your teeth with a little freshly squeezed lemon juice then rinse thoroughly. Warning : only repeat the operation once a week at most, because if the acidity of the lemon helps to eliminate tartar and dental plaque, it can also damage the enamel of the teeth. In the same way, avoid consuming acidic foods such as coffee, sodas or products containing refined sugar or aspartame, for example.
Baking soda
Baking soda is an ingredient often recommended for whitening teeth. A true natural descaler, baking soda has gentle abrasive properties that reduce plaque and smooth tooth enamel. It also has the benefit of sanitizing the mouth and preventing the formation of cavities.
How to use it ?
Apply a little baking soda powder to the toothbrush once a week, instead of toothpaste. Be careful not to use it too regularly because bicarbonate can also be responsible for weakened enamel.
Tea tree essential oil
In addition to treating gingivitis, canker sores, abscesses and bad breath, tea tree essential oil , also called Melaleuca, helps cleanse the mouth and teeth. Its antibacterial and antifungal properties make this oil an excellent oral antiseptic. Although this has not been scientifically proven, tea tree essential oil would also contain active ingredients that would whiten teeth.
How to use it ?
- As a mouthwash, gargle with half a glass of water in which a few drops of Melaleuca essential oil have been incorporated.
- Apply 1 drop of this essential oil directly on the ulcer with a cotton swab, once a day until it disappears.
- Apply 1 drop of tea tree essential oil directly to the toothpaste and gently brush your teeth once a week only to avoid damaging the enamel.
| Precautions for use: Melaleuca essential oil can be irritating: test on a small portion of skin before using it. In addition, the use of essential oils is not suitable for pregnant women or children. |
Brush your teeth several times a day
Having a healthy mouth and white teeth also requires optimal oral hygiene. A good brushing of teeth allows to eliminate the dental plaque, partly responsible for the coloring of the teeth, and to decrease the risk of dental caries.
It is advisable to brush your teeth 2 to 3 times a day, ideally after each meal, for 3 real minutes. It is also recommended to use a toothbrush adapted to your needs, preferably soft or medium, because a hard toothbrush risks damaging the gums and eventually causing loosening of the teeth .
Other tips:
It is advisable to brush the upper jaw first, then the lower one. Also remember to brush from the gum to the tooth, and not the other way around or horizontally, that is to say from one side to the other of the mouth. Remember to floss or floss daily.
To eat an apple
Tooth enamel is slightly porous, that is, it is made up of tiny interstices into which fine particles of certain foods can penetrate. It is for this reason that the teeth are quickly stained after consumption of blueberries or wine, for example.
Any colored foods or drinks tend to stain your teeth, so it is advisable to avoid them or brush your teeth promptly after consuming them. Also avoid acidic foods, such as citrus fruits or products based on refined sugars which weaken the enamel and increase its porosity.
On the other hand, chewing an apple at the end of the meal leads to salivation which makes it possible to fight against the acidity and the bacterial activity of the Mutans Streptoccus , (= bacteria forming part of the flora of the oral cavity). Not adhering to the teeth, the apple makes it possible to do a little cleaning and thus limit the formation of cavities. Chewing also helps massage the gums, which is effective against inflammation of the latter (= gingivitis). If you don’t have the opportunity to brush your teeth, lunchtime at work for example, it is advisable to eat an apple. Be careful, it does not replace brushing your teeth!
