The Best Natural Teeth Whitening Ingredients

Before whitening your teeth using natural toothpastes or a homemade mixture, you have to understand that not all tooth stains are the same, and certain products may lighten some stains but not others.

Dental Expert Nana Dickson insists on knowing the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic stains and how they play an important role in whitening your teeth.

Extrinsic stains are the result of plaque and tartar that have turned teeth darker over time, as a result of drinking coffee, tea, and smoking… Routine brushing, flossing, and at-home whitening treatments can help whitening these stains.

However, Intrinsic stains are more complicated and harder to whiten them at home. "They're the ones inside your teeth," explains Dr. Dickson. This type of staining can't be brushed away. If done at home, it takes a little while to see the results.

Also, whitening your teeth with natural products won’t give you that Hollywood smile, because a little amount of peroxide is used in their formula. Thus, natural products will eliminate the surface stains but not the deep ones.
 

You might spot these ingredients on your natural whitening toothpaste products:

• Hydrogen peroxide: It is known as an effective whitening ingredients and it is harmless in small amounts.
   
• Baking soda: It does a great job of cleaning away surface stains and it's often spotted in natural whitening toothpastes.
   
• Coconut oil: It contains lauric acid, which is known to kill bacteria that give your teeth a dark color. Thus, by eliminating them, your teeth will be brighter.
   
• Strawberries: These delicious fruits are packed with malic acid, which can help remove tooth discoloration.
   
• Apple cider vinegar: It can have a bleaching effect on the teeth, according to Dr. Dickson. However, it's acidity can erode tooth enamel over time, therefore it should be used very sparingly.

If you’re looking for some natural teeth whitening products, here are some suggestions:

Eco-Dent Extra Brite Tooth Whitener
Contains baking soda, sea salt powder with a small amount of peroxide to get a bright smile.

Kopari Coconut Oil Pullers
Contains coconut oil and comes with mint or vanilla flavors. It eliminates bacteria and removes stains.

Oral Essentials Whitening Strips
These strips contain coconut oil, dead sea salt, sage oil, and lemon peel oil to gently remove stains.