Say, do you dream of having bright, white teeth but have a fear of dentists? When I was a kid I couldn’t understand why people were afraid of dentists. After all, my dad is a dentist, and I wasn’t afraid of him. So why should others be afraid of their dads? That’s three year-old logic for you. Anyway, back to the point of this article here are seven natural ways that you can, in fact, whiten your teeth.
1. Nuts
If you’re looking for an excuse to polish off an entire jar of roasted cashews, just tell everybody that it’s all for the sake of good teeth. Please share that jar with your friends, guys. In all seriousness, what makes nuts great is that they help remove stains and plaque! So eat a handful.
2. Charcoal
Before you go fetch a big bag of Kingsford briquettes like the kind you use to have a barbecue with, we should probably inform you that we aren’t talking about that kind of charcoal. We’re referring to activated charcoal, which you can find in any pharmacy or medical supply section of department chain store. This might not be the most pleasantly-tasting method for whitening your teeth, but it sure as hell is one of the most effective ways. Mix it with water and toothpaste and brush away. It’s perfect for getting rid of coffee and tea stains.
3. Baking Soda and Salt
This is a simple and cheap solution to whitening your teeth. Just mix the two together with water, gently brush as you would with toothpaste, and watch your teeth turn white before your eyes! Okay, it won’t happen right away. But “watch your teeth turn white very slowly and gradually”.
4. Apples
As the famous expression goes, “An apple a day keeps your teeth looking great due to their slightly acidic nature.” By eating this fruit, you can gradually rub away teeth stains, resulting in super pretty white teeth!
5. Strawberries
Using red strawberries to whiten your teeth might sound counterintuitive, but you’ve got to remember that life is full of surprises, okay? Strawberries contain a lot of Vitamin C, which is really effective in getting rid of the yellow. What you do is mash a few of them up into a paste, rub them on your teeth, and let it settle for a couple of minutes. Then spit it out. Not really. You are free to enjoy that mushy strawberry goodness! Remember to only do this once a week since over whitening can damage the enamel of your teeth.
6. Celery
This works on a variety of levels. First, since our second favorite Bloody Mary condiment is almost pure water, it stimulates the salivary glands and helps wash way pieces of food. Biting down on celery also strengthens your gums, so that’s an extra bonus. By the way, if you’re wondering what our #1 favorite Bloody Mary condiment is, the answer is jumbo shrimp. Isn’t it obvious?
7. Lemons
Ehhhhhh, but lemons are so acidic! *Spoken with a super annoying, whiny voice* Settle down, son. Just keep reading, we have a solution for the acidity. To whiten your teeth, start by taking a fresh lemon, squeezing the juice into a cup, and swishing it in your mouth. Rub your teeth with the lemon peel and you’re all set! As for dealing with the acid, you will brush your teeth afterwards.
Here’s also a mini list of things that you should avoid if you want whiter teeth… plus my excuses for ignoring this advice:
Coffee – because coffee is awesome.
Ice – because I like my coffee cold.
Tongue piercings – because I’m all emo and stuff.
Red wine – well, I certainly can’t dance while sober, now can I!
Soda – I need my Pepsi fix.
Cigarettes – actually, I follow this advice! Plus smoking kills, my friends.
