[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Everyone wants a brighter, whiter smile. But our daily lifestyles sometimes stand in the way of that smile. Consuming coffee, soft drinks, or using tobacco products have detrimental effects on the health of your smile. This sends some folks seeking home remedies to brighten things back up. If you want to whiten your teeth, we highly recommend scheduling an appointment and letting a professional handle it. But, we understand that sometimes that DIY streak comes out and you may want to handle things on your own. So in order to help you avoid some of the over the counter products that can do more harm than good, we have put together 5 natural teeth whitening tips to help you brighten your smile.

Strawberries – In a trend that has been gaining popularity, smashing up strawberries into a spread to put on your teeth has shown results in whitening. The reason for this is that strawberries contain malic acid which is a natural whitener. After leaving the spread on your teeth for five minutes, you want to brush it off with regular toothpaste, and floss to remove any remaining particles.

Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar is rapidly becoming the “fix all” that no home can live without. Teeth whitening is one of the more recent additions to the versatility of the product. Some people mix it with baking soda to make a paste. Others simply gargle with it. Either way, those that utilize apple cider vinegar as a natural whitener warn that it takes some time to see the effects, so don’t give up after a few days if you don’t see immediate results.

Baking Soda – Also known as sodium bicarbonate, baking soda can be mixed with lemon juice to make a paste that helps whiten teeth. Baking soda is effective because it is mildly abrasive so it can fight built up stains, but it also is very alkaline, so if you have an acidic diet, baking soda can counter the effects of the acid.

Get a new toothbrush – How often do you change out your toothbrush? The American Dental Association recommends getting a new brush every three to four months. Keeping a toothbrush too long reduces its effectiveness and can lead to yellowing of your teeth. Also, while talking about your toothbrush, brushing after eating or drinking anything that can stain your teeth is recommended to keep them white.

Dairy products – We’ve been told all our lives to drink milk for a bright smile; and that turns out to be great advice. Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt contain both calcium for strengthening your teeth, but lactic acid for whitening them as well.

Every one of these recommendations should be followed immediately by brushing your teeth with a traditional toothpaste and flossing. The reason is that while these tips help, they are either acidic or alkaline and after they’re done doing their job, their chemical properties don’t allow them to stop doing what they do. This can lead to further damage to enamel, cavities, or worse. Instead, you want to let them do their job, then brush away the after effects.

Of course, for a thorough whitening, you should give us a call to set up an appointment. Instead of abrasive or acidic spreads and rinses used at home, We utilize photodynamic technology to lighten teeth up to nine shades whiter.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]