Even though Americans spend a total of $1.4 billion on professional and at home teeth whitening procedures every year, their teeth won’t always stay white without proper care.
But before you pay more on a year’s supply of whitening solutions, consider these cheap teeth whitening home remedies to keep your teeth gleaming between dental visits:
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Eat crunchy fruits and vegetables: This tip isn’t just great for your diet, it’s great for your teeth as well. Crisp fruits like raw apples and pairs and crunchy veggies like raw carrots and celery naturally abrade your teeth. This means that while you’re eating, they’re polishing your teeth and removing stains without harming your enamel.
They also increase the production of saliva, which actually protects your teeth from the bacteria that causes cavities and acts as a naturally occurring detergent for stains! You can also brush your teeth with strawberries to prevent plaque buildup as long as you rinse thoroughly afterward.
Use baking soda on tough stains: Baking soda is a classic home teeth whitening solution. Mix baking soda and lemon juice into a paste and brush it onto your teeth. Wait a minute, then brush it to remove it. The baking soda buffs stains off your teeth and the lemon juice bleaches them.
People with sensitive mouths can just use baking soda, or mix it with salt. However, since baking soda is abrasive, it can break down enamel if you use it too often. Don’t let the mixture sit for more than a minute and only buff once a week, if that.
Eat cheese after meals: The milk protein, calcium and phosphate in cheese strengthens your tooth enamel and may actually cause it to remineralize. Weakened enamel is more prone to staining, and if it breaks down, the tooth underneath can be stained as well. Stains that go deeper than enamel are very hard to treat with home teeth whitening, so prevent them by snacking on cheese after big meals!
Sticking with these home teeth whitening methods can save you money on products and keep your teeth white and sparkling!
