Most whitening kits and toothpastes contain very harsh ingredients that may ruin your teeth and harm your gums. Professional whitening certainly doesn’t come cheap! If you rarely smile because the current color of your teeth is more embarrassing than flattering, fret not. There is a very simple and effective way to whiten it using an ingredient you can easily purchase at the supermarket and health food store, without ending up with a gigantic hole in your pocket.
Before we discuss what this superb teeth whitening ingredient is, let us first discuss the reason behind the discoloration of your pearly whites: plaque.
Plaque is basically a colorless and sticky film on your teeth consisting of sugar and bacteria. If it’s colorless, you may be wondering how plaque can make your teeth look discolored. Here’s the answer: if not properly removed, plaque can harden and become tartar — a buildup of yellowish or brownish mineral.
Tartar can be hard to remove on your own. Your dentist has the right skills and tools to remove this unsightly deposit on your choppers caused by plaque. So before tartar builds up, it is a good idea for you to constantly clean your teeth in order to effectively remove plaque, keeping them from piling on top of each other and hardening.
Plaque is constantly forming because there are bacteria in your mouth all the time. Consuming most especially sugary foods and beverages supplies these oral bacteria with the food they eat to grow and multiply. It’s for this reason why regular brushing is important. This very simple act is usually enough to stop plaque in its tracks. Dental experts say that you should brush your teeth at least twice daily. Also, you should:
- Floss on a daily basis to remove plaque in areas that your toothbrush cannot reach, such as between each teeth and right under the gumline.
- Reduce your consumption of foods laden with sugar and starch, most especially sticky ones that are challenging to remove on the surface of your teeth.
- Pay your dentist on a regular basis for routine dental examinations and professional cleanings.
Aside from doing the things suggested above by dental experts themselves, there is also something that may be performed involving a single ingredient: coconut oil.
Coconut oil has been proven to have impressive antimicrobial properties. It is known to be capable of killing off bacteria, viruses and fungi. That is why coconut oil can be used as a home remedy for various bacterial, viral and fungal infections. The reason for this is lauric acid found in coconut oil. As much as 50% of coconut oil is comprised of this healthy and antimicrobial fat. It is known to help disinfect minor wounds, treat dandruff caused by fungi, cure ringworm, athlete’s foot and other fungal infections, yeast infection and many others.
Coconut oil is highly effective in zapping bacteria in the mouth and removing plaque buildup, thus saving you from problems such as bad breath, tooth discoloration and tartar buildup. It’s the perfect alternative to your regular toothpaste most especially if you cannot find a brand that does not contain ingredients known to be detrimental to your health.
You may take advantage of the plaque-busting benefits of coconut oil simply by dunking your toothbrush in it and brushing away. Similarly, you may simply take a couple of tablespoons of it and swish it in your mouth for a few minutes. Doing this is an effective way to flush bacteria and plaque out of areas that your toothbrush cannot reach.
Do this coconut oil swishing as part of your daily oral hygiene ritual and you can say goodbye to problems such as bad breath, plaque and unsightly tooth discoloration.
