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Herbal Whitening

Although there are many products available to help you whiten your teeth, the truth is that there are also plenty of homemade options. You can have sparkling white teeth with the help of just a few herbs and other natural ingredients. Many of these items are available at your grocery store, and will often be cheaper than commercial whitening products.

  1. Sage Leaf

    • Sage leaf is just one herbal teeth whitening remedy that people recommend. Take a sage leaf and rub it over your teeth, or grind it up and mix it with toothpaste. You can also make tea with ground sage leaf and rinse your mouth with it. These methods will be much gentler on your mouth than commercially-available whiteners, because there are no harsh chemicals that could damage your teeth.

    Turmeric Powder

    • Turmeric powder is often used for skin whitening, and can be used to whiten teeth as well. There are several different recipes that people recommend for dental use of turmeric. One recipe calls for a paste of turmeric, lime juice and salt, which can be rubbed onto your teeth. Salt promotes healthy gums, and the acidity in lime juice can be dangerous for your enamel when consumed in large doses, but has whitening effects in smaller amounts. Others say that turmeric alone can be rubbed onto your teeth for a whitening effect.

    Bay Leaf

    • Another herb that has been touted as an effective tooth whitener is bay leaf. Mixed with ground orange peels, bay leaf can remove stains from teeth. Like in the lime and turmeric mixture, the acid found in citrus fruits also helps remove stains, but can be harmful to enamel if used in large amounts.

    Non-herbal Natural Whitening

    • There are other household items that you can also use to whiten your teeth. Baking soda can be added to toothpaste, for one example. Also, you can use 3 percent hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash to whiten teeth. Swish it around in your mouth for 30 seconds, but be very careful not to swallow. To combine the positive effects of these two ingredients, you can make a paste out of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide and apply it to your teeth.

    Naturally Avoid Discoloration

    • There are foods that you can eat not only to avoid discoloration, but to promote whitening. Some foods promote excess production of saliva, which helps fight stains and eliminate decay. Saliva-promoting foods include celery, apples, pears and carrots, as well as sugar-free gum.

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