Many people prefer to use whitening products or methods with natural ingredients. Whether they just want to go natural, or they want to avoid the possibility of secondary effects of peroxide-based teeth whiteners. Natural ingredients are usually less expensive than do-it-yourself whitening kits and dental office treatments.
Common non-peroxide based teeth whitening agents include:
Contents
1. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).
Baking soda works by polishing teeth which removes the protein pellicle and the staining agents clinging to it. Another advantage to baking soda is that it is a gentle abrasive and is generally less abrasive than most other whitening toothpastes.
2. Vitamin C.
Orange peels and lemon peels are known for their vitamin C content and acid. Some have found that rubbing the white part of the peel on their teeth actually whitens. This is because the acidic content weakens the mineral structure of enamel. This kind whitening should not be done too often and should be followed up by a fluoride application.
3. Coconut oil.
One of the latest trends in natural tooth whitening is oil pulling. Oil pulling means sucking the oil back and forth between and around teeth. Not only will this whiten your teeth, but it will also reduce cavity-causing bacteria. This technique can be used with extra virgin olive oil, as well, but coconut oil simply tastes better.
4. Pomegranate seed extract.
While pomegranate is considered a tooth staining food, the seed extract has proven to actually naturally speed up the whitening process. Its powerful antioxidant also reduces dental plaque.
5. Bamboo powder.
Bamboo powder is similar to baking soda in that it’s added to natural teeth whitening products to gently polish teeth.
6.Activated charcoal.
Another popular trend is using activated charcoal to whiten teeth. Activated charcoal is known for its ability to absorb toxins and stains from the teeth.
The effectiveness of these ingredients will depend on the extent and type of stains you’re trying to whiten or brighten. In terms of time, it may take longer to see results without the power of a strong bleaching agent, so a bit more patience will be required to see full whitening results.