Ask Jo Chidley: how do I whiten my teeth naturally?
‘My teeth are looking a bit more stained and yellow than they used to, and it’s making me self conscious. Are there any natural ways to improve their appearance?’
Many things leave stains on your teeth over time, thin tooth enamel also makes teeth look yellow. Enamel naturally wears thin as we age and as the things we eat and drink stain the teeth, it happens to everyone. You can try and cut down on foods that stain your teeth, but we all know this is difficult.
READ MORE: 7 ways to keep your teeth filling free
To prevent further staining, or even reverse it, for some reason, flossing doesn’t come as easily to people as brushing. Just flossing can easily remove the staining between your teeth, helping them to look whiter.Another simple option is dipping your toothbrush into some powdered charcoal, brushing as normal, rinsing your mouth with water and then brushing with your normal toothpaste. Do this every day for a week, then once a week for maintenance. If you would prefer a one-step option the try a charcoal toothpaste, such as Ecodenta. (Charcoal is a appearing in lots of beauty products right now because it absorbs oil and bacteria. You’ll find charcoal in Beauty Kitchen’s Bamboo Charcoal Konjac Sponge and Sukin’s charcoal range.)
Another at home remedy is oil-pulling. Oil pulling is an Indian remedy used primarily to enhance oral health and cleanse the body. The process is actually quite simple, harmless, and very inexpensive. Simply take one tablespoon of a pure, organic oil and swish it around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes. Move the oil around your mouth through sipping, sucking, and essentially pulling through your teeth. After rinsing, spit out the oil, thoroughly rinse your mouth out with water, and drink 2-3 glasses of water. If you would prefer something a little nicer tasting try Cocowhite, which has a minty fresh flavour but is still 100% natural.
