Lemon And Baking Soda As Teeth Whitener

However, due to the high expense of professional treatments, people often tend to look for home remedies and hacks that are a lot cheaper and can be done using simple ingredients present at home. You might have seen a lot of hack videos while scrolling through your Instagram that tell you how to whiten your teeth in just a few minutes. Amongst those hacks, the most hyped remedy is the baking soda and lemon hack. They tell you to mix baking soda with lemon and apply it on your teeth for a specific time period, resulting in the absolute snow-white teeth. The dramatic results often catch our eyes and, in an attempt to save some money, we use such hacks unaware of how they actually work and what actual damage they may be causing us.

HOW BAKING SODA AND LEMON WHITEN TEETH

Enamel defends the inner layers of your teeth from experiencing any damage, as they are believed to be sensitive and can easily get effected by even the smallest of things like simple cold water. Once the enamel corrodes, the damage caused is irreversible and unlike the other protecting coats present on our body such as the nail enamel, the tooth enamel will not grow back again. Due to the protective layer gone, the inner dentine and veins of the tooth will be exposed and would become more prone to damage. The dentine is a naturally yellow tissue, so once exposed, it makes your teeth look ever more yellow and dirty.

However, various studies have shown that the use of baking soda alone does not affect the enamel rather it is the usage of lemon with soda that is the actual cause of the problem.  Although people often tend to believe that the baking soda neutralizes the acidic effect of the lemon, there are no such evidence found yet that could prove this argument. Also, while making such a paste at home, we may not be able to use the exact acid to base proportion. Given the risk of permanent damage that may be caused, it is best to leave the lemons in the kitchen.

SAFER WAYS TO WHITEN YOUR TEETH

• BRUSHING WITH BAKING SODA

Baking soda itself has naturally whitening properties, which is the reason why it’s the first thing recommended when talking about teeth whitening. It is known as a mild abrasive that can help remove plaque and stains off your teeth. Moreover, several studies have shown that toothpastes with baking soda give a more significant whitening effect than those that do not contain baking soda.

It is a simple remedy that can be performed easily without any additional work. You just need to mix a teaspoon of baking soda with two teaspoons of water and brush your teeth using the paste. It may not show overnight changes or any dramatic results, but with time you may notice a difference in the way your teeth look. Also, it is proven that the usage of only baking soda does not damage your enamel, so it is a very safe home remedy

•  PRACTICING OIL PULLIN

Another harmless way is the oil pulling method. It is an Indian folk remedy that is used to improve the oral hygiene of a person by removing toxic matter from the body.  It is practiced by circling a small amount of oil around your mouth for 10-30 minutes and then rinsing your mouth with water after spitting the oil out. This kills the bacteria that may be present in your mouth and could cause damage to your teeth. Make sure you don’t swallow the oil as it may contain the bacteria of your mouth. After rinsing your mouth, drink a glass of water and then brush your teeth to remove any remaining oil.  

Traditionally coconut or sesame oil is preferred as it not only has a good flavor but also provides many other health benefits as well.  Studies have shown that daily oil pulling helps reduce plaque formation and bacteria growth in your mouth. Not only this, the use of oil does not expose your teeth to any kind of acid and thus is very safe for daily use.

• LEMON, ORANGE AND BANANA PEEL

It is believed that rubbing the peels of banana, lemon or orange can help whiten your teeth as it contains compound d-limonene. Studies have shown that toothpastes containing 5 percent d-limonene can help reduce the stains of smoking and marks caused by intake of tea.

Rub the fruit peel on your teeth for 2 minutes and make sure to rinse your mouth thoroughly. Also, brush your teeth afterwards so that there is no citric acid left on your teeth, as deposit of acid on your teeth for too long can corrode the enamel.

These are a few safe home remedies that can help you whiten your teeth. However, getting a professional treatment is best as the experience of a dentist can never be surpassed by home remedies and hacks. Moreover, professional treatments give long lasting and effective results.

It is best to take care of our teeth before any damage is done because sometimes the damage may be irreversible and we may have to live with the fault forever. Brushing your teeth twice a day is a simple task than can help you maintain your oral hygiene. Avoiding smoking and other drugs that may cause stains on your teeth can also help you prevent any corrosion from occurring. Not only this, maintaining a proper diet also plays an important role in the health of your teeth. We must make sure that our diet contains the right amount of calcium and vitamins required by our body as they play a major role in making our teeth stronger. Make sure you get your regular dental checkups as they can help you catch a cavity or stain that may be in its initial state and thus would be easier to get rid of as compared to when it has become permanent. 

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