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Everyone wants white and unstained teeth for a perfect smile. Yellow and stained teeth can damage your appearance and break your confidence in front of people. On the other hand, sparkling teeth can make you look more attractive.
Demand for white teeth has been increasing over time in the cosmetic industry. Stained teeth home remedies are the best to treat yellow teeth compared to costly cosmetic procedures. 1
Causes Of Stained Teeth
There are generally two causes of stained teeth: enamel thinning and food stains.
1. Enamel Thinning
The outer layer of the teeth, called the enamel, is white and protects the inner tooth structure. Just below the enamel, there is a yellow layer called dentin. The enamel erodes due to aging, acidic foods, and gum diseases. This leaves the yellow dentin exposed and gives a yellow appearance to the teeth.
Stains From Specific Foods
Certain foods like red wine, coffee, tea, and blueberries can lead to staining of teeth. Following a high sugar diet and eating simple carbs can also deteriorate your oral hygiene2, causing stained teeth.
2. Other Reasons For Stained Teeth
- Smoking
- Chewing tobacco
- Having a dry mouth due to lack of saliva
- The side effect of certain medications
- Old Age
- Genetics
Stained Teeth Home Remedies
There are plenty of whitening products in the market that can make your teeth white. Most of these products contain chemicals that damage your teeth, so you must choose wisely. There are natural options that can be used as stained teeth home remedies to get wonderful results.
1. Oil Pulling
Very few people are familiar with this method. Plaque is one of the major reasons for having yellow teeth, and it can be removed by oil pulling to give you whiter teeth. Oil pulling is the process of washing your mouth with oil, which removes bacteria and plaque from your mouth. It is one of the stained teeth home remedies used in India.
One must purchase high-quality pure organic oil that does not contain harmful ingredients. Coconut oil is the best option as it tastes better than other oils and smells good too. There are no specific studies to back up this process, but a 2015 study found out that oil pulling using sesame oil reduced gingivitis3 caused due to plaque build-up.
One must be careful not to swallow the oil as it contains bacteria and dirt from your mouth. Be careful not to spit the oil into the sink as it can clog the pipes.
2. Brush with Baking Soda
Baking soda is famous for its natural whitening properties and is one of the best-stained teeth home remedies. Baking soda is a mild abrasive that helps to scrub the teeth’ surface to remove the stains. It creates an alkaline environment inside the mouth that prevents the growth of bacteria.
Science has not proven the abilities of baking soda in teeth whitening, but many studies say that baking soda in toothpaste plays a role in whitening teeth to an extent. Many toothpaste companies claim to have baking soda in their toothpaste to attract more consumers.
A study revealed that toothpaste with baking soda removes plaque from teeth effectively compared to a toothpaste that does not contain baking soda.
Baking soda does not work overnight, so you will have to wait for a while to get the optimum results.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent. Since ancient times, people have been using hydrogen peroxide as it is one of the most effective stained teeth home remedies. Commercials of tooth whitening toothpaste contain hydrogen peroxide. A study on toothpaste suggests that toothpaste containing baking soda and 1% hydrogen peroxide can help gain significantly whiter teeth.
Although there are claims on teeth whitening properties of hydrogen peroxide4, there are also doubts about its safety for use. A highly diluted hydrogen peroxide solution is safe, but a strong concentration of hydrogen peroxide can cause gum irritation and tooth sensitivity. Overuse of hydrogen peroxide can lead to erosion of the teeth, so it is suggested to use not more than a few times a week.
4. Brushing and Flossing
Generally, discoloration of teeth is caused due to age, but most of the discoloration and stains come from plaque buildup.
Regular brushing and flossing can prevent plaque build-up and make teeth stay white. Thus, this is one of the handiest stained teeth home remedies.
You need to brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes at a time. Overbrushing can cause damage to your teeth, so make sure you stick to the 2-minute limit. When brushing, reach out to every corner and crack in your mouth. Brush in a circular motion to protect your gums.
Now that your teeth are clean, you need to clean your tongue. This is also an important factor as the tongue also comes into contact with all the food. Maintaining good oral hygiene 5can help your stained home teeth remedies to give better results.
Brushing just after consuming food and drink that causes stained teeth makes it easier to remove the stains. Be careful if you have consumed an acidic drink or food because brushing right after can erode your enamel more.
Studies show that using whitening toothpaste can make your smile whiter, and electric toothbrushes help remove stains better. Brushing your teeth is the easiest of all the stained teeth home remedies and can be the most effective if done right and stains are relatively new. Brushing your teeth twice daily can solve your yellow teeth problem.
5. Orange Peels
Orange peel is also one of the most popular stained teeth home remedies that can help you whiten your yellow teeth. Orange peels have an acidic property that acts like bleach. This helps in removing the yellow stains on your teeth. Orange peels are also known for containing limonene that effectively removes smoking stains from teeth to a certain extent.
A study suggests that tubes of toothpaste containing d-limonene are somewhat effective in removing smoking stains. You can start by rubbing an orange peel on your teeth for 2-3 mins and then rinse your mouth. Repeat this method until you get your desired results.
6. Brush with Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is known for absorbing dirt. There are claims that activated charcoal can fix your stained teeth, making it one of the easily available stained teeth home remedies. It can also remove bacteria and toxins from your mouth. Many kinds of toothpaste containing the activated charcoal claim that they can whiten teeth within 4 weeks of use.
Activated charcoal can be harsh on your teeth and lead to loss of tooth structure and wearing away of the enamel layer. Since wearing away tooth enamel makes your teeth look more yellow, you must be cautious while using charcoal or charcoal-based toothpaste.
7. Eating Fruits and Vegetables
A diet with elevated levels of fruits and vegetables is good for both the body and the teeth. Eating crunchy raw fruits like apples and vegetables helps remove plaque as you chew.
Chewing on crunchy fruits is a great way to whiten your teeth, and hence eating fruits is one of the most easily accessible among stained teeth home remedies. Some foods like celery, carrots and pears trigger saliva formation, which washes away any food stuck on the teeth. They can also neutralize the acids that cause tooth decay.
Strawberry and pineapple are also said to have whitening effects on teeth. Fruits and vegetables with high water content help to keep your teeth healthy.
8. Tooth Whitening Kit
There are several teeth whitening kits that have become popular in the cosmetic industry recently. They generally contain carbamide peroxide, which is a type of bleach. It can remove both deep and light stains and give you whiter teeth. This is a cosmetic process that can be done at home easily, making it a great example for stained teeth home remedies.
There are other types of kits that consist of peroxide gel in a mold, shaped like teeth. These molds have to be worn daily for 30 mins for a week to get whiter teeth.
9. Home Whitening Strips
These strips are really thin and almost invisible. They are coated with peroxide gel for whitening. You can wear it for a few minutes every day to get results in a week. These whitening strips are not as good as the whitening kits but are easy to use at home, making them quick result stained teeth home remedies.
A person must be careful while using these stained teeth home remedies as overuse of a particular ingredient like hydrogen peroxide and baking soda can be harmful.
The best way to get whiter teeth is to consult a dentist to guide you through the process. Making an appointment with your dentist for professional clean-ups will ultimately give better results than stained teeth home remedies. The polishing methods used by dentists can also help remove tobacco stains, which do not budge under stained teeth home remedies.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Are Some Natural Tooth Whitening Remedies?
Brushing with baking soda, using apple cider vinegar as a mouthwash, oil pulling with coconut oil, and eating crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples and carrots are some home cures for discolored teeth. It is also critical to practice good dental care by brushing and flossing on a regular basis and visiting your dentist for cleanings.
2. Are There Any Natural Tooth Whitening Remedies?
Brushing with activated charcoal, rubbing strawberries or banana peels on your teeth, and using a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda are all options. However, these cures should be used with caution and not in excess, as they can damage your tooth enamel.
3. When Should I Consult a Dentist About My Discolored Teeth?
If your stained teeth are the result of a dental problem, such as tooth decay or gum disease, you should seek treatment from a dentist. Furthermore, if you have tried home cures and still have severe staining or discoloration, your dentist can provide safe and effective professional teeth whitening choices.
Proofread by:
Dr. Foram Bhuta
Dentist (B.D.S)
- Ogden, Stephanie, and T. W. Griffiths. “A review of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures.” British Journal of Dermatology 159.5 (2008): 1036-1050. ↩︎
- Grönbeck Lindén, Ingela, et al. “Factors affecting older persons’ ability to manage oral hygiene: a qualitative study.” JDR Clinical & Translational Research 2.3 (2017): 223-232. ↩︎
- Page, Roy C. “Gingivitis.” Journal of Clinical Periodontology 13.5 (1986): 345-355. ↩︎
- Neill, Steven, Radhika Desikan, and John Hancock. “Hydrogen peroxide signalling.” Current opinion in plant biology 5.5 (2002): 388-395. ↩︎
- Choo, Audrey, David M. Delac, and Louise Brearley Messer. “Oral hygiene measures and promotion: review and considerations.” Australian dental journal 46.3 (2001): 166-173. ↩︎
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