Are you bothered that your teeth, although healthy, are not sparkling white? Perhaps it is because of the natural shade of your bones, in which case you will not miss a visit to the dentist. However, there are also home remedies for whitening teeth, although - beware - only some are effective and safe.

The most fashionable tooth colour has remained snow white for years and there is no indication that this is about to change. If your teeth are yellow - you must act. Hygiene alone, however meticulous, will not whiten your teeth. If your enamel is already discoloured, it is worth thinking about teeth whitening. You can use home remedies, but it's worth, before you embark on 'smile surgery', that you are aware of the potential pros and cons of the available methods for whitening your teeth at home.

Why aren't your teeth white?

Coffee, cigarettes, berries, red wine - these are the ones accused of yellowing teeth and there is some truth in this. However, it can be quite the opposite. Answer the question: have your teeth ever been so white that you were happy with them?

If not, chances are that your natural bone shade is yellowish. This isn't a terrible thing - tooth colour is a genetic issue, just like eye colour, hair colour or skin tone. If this is the case, home remedies for teeth whitening will not be effective and a 'Hollywood smile' can only give you a dentist.

If you dream of a beautiful smile, but your teeth are curves, Think about braces. Find out more about this in our article Types of braces in the UK - which to choose?

Home remedies for whitening teeth - what you can achieve

If you want to carry out teeth whitening at home, think carefully about the method. Not all are effective and some are harmful to your teeth. One thing is for sure - there is no quick, effective or homemade method. Such a way to whiten your teeth simply does not exist, so either be patient or risk damaging your enamel.

Is it worth it? It's not worth it, because enamel is a tissue given to us once in a lifetime, and damaging it will take you to the dentist much more often, and thus you will spend much more than you would on in-office whitening.

Grandmothers' methods - salt, baking soda and lemon juice

Brushing your teeth with salt will make them snow white - you too may have heard this from your grandmother. The other version assumes that putting baking soda on your toothbrush twice a week instead of toothpaste will also whiten your teeth. The fact is, after using such a treatment, the colour of your teeth may temporarily lighten. However, there is a but...

Both methods involve the mechanical removal of deposits from the teeth. Unfortunately, most often along with the enamel, which can cause tooth sensitivity and subsequent... susceptibility to staining. In addition, teeth whitened by such an invasive method will lose their natural shine, which is just as important for a good appearance as the shade of white itself.

Furthermore, the risky method may not give you a white smile at all. Why? Because abrasive methods can only lighten your teeth to the level of your natural bone colour.

One popular method of whitening teeth at home is to use lemon juice. Unfortunately, the enamel is also weakened in this case. There are other safe 'fruit' methods. Strawberry paste or polishing the teeth with a banana peel will not damage the precious enamel, but do not expect spectacular results from such treatments. These are methods for the patient.

Home remedies for whitening teeth according to Eastern Cultures - oils and turmeric

Hindu culture and Ayurveda, also bring folk methods for home whitening of teeth. These are much safer than the old-fashioned ones. You have to wait a long time for results, so they are a job for the systematic. However, they are not harmful like salt, soda and lemon. Bollywood-style teeth whitening is a treatment based on oil and turmeric.

Turmeric, the popular yellow spice, has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Using it twice a week for daily brushing will gently brighten teeth. It is best used in combination with coconut oil and a drop of peppermint oil.

Ayurveda, Hindu natural medicine, gives us a solution based on the beneficial effects of oils. It recommends rinsing the mouth with oil, immediately before washing it with fluoride toothpaste. If you would like to try this method, you need to stock up on coconut oil, rapeseed oil or olive oil and be prepared to feel uncomfortable first thing in the morning. Rinse daily with a spoonful of oil spread in the mouth for a few minutes. Unfortunately, in both cases, it takes months for the effects to be noticeable.

Activated carbon - a hit in recent years

Activated charcoal was supposed to be a panacea for yellow teeth. The boom in teeth whitening using the contents of diarrhoea capsules began in 2016. It quickly gained supporters, who explained that activated charcoal binds to surface deposits and safely removes stains from teeth. However, there is also a risk - after carbon whitening, our teeth can lighten unevenly.

Toothpastes with activated charcoal are also not an effective solution. Only a small proportion of them contain fluoride, which protects our teeth and enamel from bacteria and prevents the development of decay. As with any toothpaste, it helps to maintain the whitening effect rather than actually achieving it.

Home kits for self-whitening teeth

Whitening your teeth at home can theoretically start with a visit to the drugstore. You can find home overlay teeth whitening kits for as little as a few tens of pounds at Boots or Superdrags. However, the quality of whitening products is not as high as those available at the dentist's surgery.

Please note that the manufacturers stipulate that these methods are safe when the teeth are healthy and tight, so they recommend a dental check-up. Also, you cannot use them if you have porcelain crowns or fillings.

Professional teeth whitening

What to do then? Choose a method with your dentist. At your periodic check-up, your dentist will fit the right product for your teeth. The cost of a home kit for overlay whitening at our practice is £150.

For a similar amount, you can invest in in-office teeth whitening with an led lamp. The effect will be immediate and the treatment itself painless and short. When undergoing the treatment, you do not have to be afraid of pain. After a dental examination, a special protective substance will be applied to your gums and a gel with whitening hydrogen peroxide and trays will be applied to your teeth. After this preparation, it is time for irradiation. The led lamp in three cycles of 15-20 minutes each will enhance the effect of the gel, so that safe teeth whitening will also have an immediate effect.

This treatment also has its more expensive but most effective variant. It is equally safe and the only one that guarantees whitening of teeth to the colour vita B1, which in the world of dentistry means the whitest of whites. The Enlighten system we use involves the preparation of individual trays and whitening of teeth in the office.

Thinking to yourself "cool, just where to get the money for it"? Rest assured, at our dental office you can spread the treatment, but also the whitening, in instalments. If you are interested in this topic give us a call or read our article Teeth on credit: dental treatment on hire purchase. Importantly, our instalment system is 100% secure and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA number 619628).

What about a yellowed dead tooth?

If there is a blemish in your smile caused by a dead tooth, this problem can also be solved. A defect in the form of a darkening tooth is usually caused by root canal treatment, or so-called endodontics. There can be many reasons for this, including pulp haemorrhage during the treatment, incomplete pulp removal or leakage. In this case, the first step would be to re-fill the cavity, followed by bleaching.

Depending on the degree of degradation and colour difference, the dentist will carry out a one-off treatment or several stages until he or she has achieved a result that is satisfactory to you.

Importantly, in the case of a dead tooth or blackened enamel, there is nothing to try to achieve the effect on your own, as home remedies for teeth whitening do not work in this case.

Home remedies for teeth whitening - to use or not to use

A Hollywood smile is a desirable aesthetic result, but in this case there are no at-home solutions that will be easy, safe and give results quickly. Therefore, if you want to fulfil the dream of white teeth quickly, simply sign up to our dental practice, where we will select the appropriate method of tooth whitening and carry it out in accordance with the art.