Do you feel ashamed because of yellow teeth?

Do you want whiter teeth without spending tons of money on expensive products or treatments? Luckily, there's one common household product that does wonders for whitening teeth - baking soda! Baking soda - also known as bicarbonate of soda - is a mild abrasive which effectively removes stains caused by tea, coffee, cigarettes, and other things from the teeth. 

Here are some steps on how to use it.

1.  Mix the baking soda with water.

In a small cup, mix half a teaspoon of baking soda with half a teaspoon of water. Mix to form a paste. Dip your toothbrush into the cup, to cover the bristles with the baking soda paste.

• Alternatively, you can dip a wet toothbrush directly into some baking soda, and the powder will attach itself to the bristles. However, the taste of the baking soda will be very strong if you use this method.

2.  Brush your teeth for one to two minutes. 

Brush your teeth as you normally would, but really concentrate on getting the brush into all the cracks and crevices. Don't brush your teeth for any longer than two minutes, as baking soda is a mild abrasive and may begin to erode the enamel on your teeth.

• Be aware that the taste of baking soda is not particularly pleasant!

3.  Rinse. 

Spit out the baking soda and rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash. Give your toothbrush a thorough rinse as well.

4.  Repeat every other day. 

You should repeat the process of brushing your teeth with baking soda every other day for one or two weeks. You will notice a slight difference in the whiteness of your teeth after just a few days, and a substantial difference after a couple of weeks.

• After a couple of weeks of brushing with baking soda every second day, you should cut back to doing it just once or twice a week. This is because the abrasive properties of the baking soda may damage the enamel on your teeth if used too frequently.
• Be aware that brushing your teeth with baking soda should not replace brushing your teeth with regular toothpaste. This is because regular toothpaste contains fluoride, which is important for strengthening teeth and preventing cavities.

Get pearly whites the easy way

A warm smile can work wonders when meeting someone new, but if what you flash is unhealthy yellow teeth, the effect is instantly diminished.

Professional ways to whiten teeth can prove to be expensive, but don't lose heart. There are some simple, yet effective, ways to ensure that the next time you smile, you show off pearly whites instead.

Dental hygiene: 

Keeping your dental hygiene in check is vital. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss every day. This will keep your teeth healthy and white by getting rid of build-up.

Watch what you drink: 

Beverages such as coffee, tea and dark fizzy drinks can all stain your teeth. While it may not be possible to completely eliminate them from your diet, limit their intake. Remember, if it can stain your t-shirt, it can stain your teeth.

Rinse after you eat: 

It is not possible to brush after each meal, but you must rinse your mouth with water after you eat. Colourful fruits and vegetables — such as beetroot and mangoes — can stain your teeth, but this can be prevented by simply rinsing your mouth after consuming them.

Stub it out: 

We all know that smoking is bad for health, but it also gives you bad breath and makes your teeth appear unsightly. Nicotine and tar in cigarettes stain teeth and smoking reduces the amount of saliva in the mouth, which naturally cleans teeth.

Use the power of deception: 

this one's for the ladies. Wearing the right lip colour can give the illusion of white teeth. Pick colours with blue undertones — such as rich reds, berry colours, pinks with a cool tint or nude colors — since they counteract against yellow shades. Stay away from bright orange or reds with warm undertones as they accentuate stains.

Home remedies for bright white teeth

Pearly whites gone pale! One of the most common problems that every dentist comes across. Though we all wish to have pearly white smile, going for crazy expensive treatments definitely burns a hole in our pockets, thank goodness there are some home remedies which are not only easy but very reasonable.

Banana peels: 

Bananas are considered to be a wholesome fruit that houses loads of nutrients. But do you know that banana peels are a great source of teeth whitening as well. So the next time preserve that banana peel to get a pearly white teeth. Rub the peel on your teeth for about a minute or two twice daily. The minerals in bananas such as potassium, manganese and magnesium, are absorbed into your teeth, which keeps your pearly whites in their best health. Orange peels are also considered to be a great source of teeth whiteners.

Berry berry strawberry: 

Did you know that those bright red strawberries are a great source of teeth whiteners? Well, now that you know it, start stocking up fresh strawberries. All you have to do is take one or two strawberries, mash them up and apply them on your teeth for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse properly after this procedure or you can even brush your teeth. Strawberries being a rich source of natural enzyme known as malic acid, helps in whitening teeth, while the fiber found in strawberries act as a natural cleanser that helps in remoivng the bacteria especially, from the mouth and teeth.

Munch in the crunchy carrots: 

The next time you see those crunchy carrots, simply wash them well and eat them raw. Raw carrots are very beneficial in scrapping off plaque from your teeth and are also known as natural cleaner. Also rubbing raw carrot sticks on your teeth will brighten them up. They also kill the bacteria while giving you healthy gums and whiter teeth. Apart from carrots, apples and celery are also considered equally important sources of teeth whiteners. which prevents gum disease and gingivitis and kills odor-causing bacteria.

Quit smoking:

Surely it is easy to say than actually doing it and sticking to it. But, all said and done, quitting smoking has more benefits. Smoking, yellows your teeth along with imparting you with other deadly diseases. So if you want to bring back the pearly white shines, quit smoking.

Use a straw: 

Sipping anything extremely hot or cold is not good for your teeth. So as far as possible try sipping your tea or cold coffee through a straw as it cuts down the direct contact of your teeth and hot 

Teeth jewelery the latest trend

Are you looking for adding a spark to your personality? Then get chasing the latest trend which is to add a 'sparkle' to your teeth.

We are talking of teeth jewelry that helps you to flash a million dollar smile! Many are adapting this style statement not only to surprise friends with a sparkling crystal glass design, or something in gold with a twinkle of ruby or diamond, but also adds zing to your smile.

Brijesh Patel, one of the leading dentists shares, "Teeth jewelry is very much well-versed and preferred by NRIs. Although, not many localities contact us for the same as the concept of having teeth accessories is not known much to people here as of yet. The trend is catching up with males, specially those heading towards foreign destinations for study or leisure. However, not many girls are visiting clinics and inquiring about tooth jewellery."

The procedure of fixing teeth jewelry is very simple and usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Dentists do offer lots of fun designs to choose from crystals, diamonds and 24 carat gold. There is no drilling involved, so the jewel does not damage tooth and has no side effects. It can be easily removed without any damage to the tooth structure. Further, if one wants tooth jewelry can be fixed again at a later stage. The longitivity of adhesion of these studs varies from 6 months to years.

 

Neeta Rautela, a dentist, raises concern towards care and maintenance of the same. She shares, "Teeth jewelry does require a lot of maintenance because of accumulation of plaque, this depends on one's food habits et al and on tendency of one's teeth to have stains. Thereby, timely routine cleaning and polishing is required so as to maintain shine of jewellery."

When we asked Avni Panchal, who is a dentist, she shared, "I have an embedded diamond stud on tooth for quite some time, it is totally non-toxic and maintenance free. Even if one swallows this stud just in case, it does not cause any harm. I'm confident enough to recommend the same to those who are all game to keep a pace with new fashion trends."

How to whiten your teeth naturally

Who doesn't want sparkling white teeth? Clean, white teeth are an indication of how well-groomed you are.

 

However, if you think spending a bomb at your dentist's is the only way to keep your pearlies sparkling, you have got it all wrong. Here are a few things from your kitchen that will preserve that dazzling smile:

Baking soda:

It's not known as the universal cleanser for nothing. Add a little baking soda to your toothbrush and brush like you normally would.

Peroxide: 

It's always used for cleaning as it kills germs. Teeth get discoloured because of the natural colourants in the food we have and also because of the bacteria and germs living on our teeth. After brushing, rinse your mouth with peroxide. It freshens and cleanses while whitening teeth.

Celery: 

It is mostly made of water and has very little colour of its own. Chewing on celery will dislodge plaque that has settled on your teeth while cleaning the space between teeth by removing food and germs.

Apple cider vinegar: 

Either gargle or dip your toothbrush in apple cider vinegar and then brush your teeth for the perfect toothy grin.