9 Natural Ways to Have Whiter Teeth

It probably won’t come as a surprise that teeth whitening and health products are very popular… but of course, not all work, and some contain harmful chemicals.

There are many ways to care for your teeth naturally – both stopping, slowing and reversing problems such as tooth decay and gum disease and pregnancy gingivitis.

For thousands of years people have been searching for ways to whiten and keep their teeth healthy.

The following list is for reference only – for severe problems you should see a dentist. If you plan to try anything listed here, I’d recommend that you research it yourself first, before trying it.

Here are 9 natural (and safe for pregnancy) ways to have whiter teeth

1. Activated Charcoal: Charcoal has been used for many years for various types of wounds. It is a fine, black powder that is odorless, tasteless, and nontoxic for the human body. Activated charcoal is completely safe for pregnant moms. The body does not digest charcoal and therefore the substance does not collect in your bloodstream. It can help by cleaning your teeth of stains and relieving the pain of toothache and abscesses.
2. Baking Soda: Baking soda has been a long standing remedy for teeth problems – recommendations include mixing it with salt or just brushing in a paste form (mixed with water) onto your teeth.  If you see a cavity in your tooth it’s usually a lot more advanced than the small hole it appears. Remember: Prevention!
3. Banana Skins: Many people have reported that simply rubbing the inside of a banana peel on their teeth for two minutes, twice a day, has removed staining and left them with brilliantly white teeth.
4. Oil Pulling: This simple method of swishing oil around in your mouth can help your teeth and gums. Proponents of this method have found that some oils (such as coconut oil) can also reduce staining on the teeth and whiten them. It can also relieve tooth pain.
5. Sea Salt: Natural sea salt contains many important natural vitamins and minerals that can help your teeth stay healthy and even, in some cases, reverse decay. A simple mouthwash twice a day can help with problems such as sensitivity in your teeth.
6. Strawberries: Making a purée of fresh strawberries and either brushing your teeth with them or holding the purée in your mouth for several minutes is said to whiten teeth. However this isn’t always recommended for regular use, since the whitening comes from the high acidity content of the strawberries and can result in harm to the teeth.
7. Visualisation: Many people have claimed that intense visualisation exercises have helped teeth both stop decaying and even slowly repair themselves. The recommendation is to relax and picture the tooth in good condition for five minutes at a time, several times a day.
8. Waterpiks: Just like the dentist uses, a waterpik machines spray a jet of water at your teeth and can be good for cleaning in those hard to reach places that a toothbrush can’t properly penetrate.
9. Xylitol: This is a sugar replacement that many claim can prevent and in some cases, reverse tooth decay. About 5-10 grams per day is enough to help your teeth. Some gums are sweetened with it or you can buy it in powdered form.