Natural Health October 2017

PREVENTION & Remedies
don’t it can very well scrub the enamel
right off your teeth. This is a big problem,
considering enamel does not grow back.
The paste should not be gritty at all; in
fact, it should be a runnier paste than a
stiff paste. Rub the paste onto your teeth
for about 30 seconds, then rinse well.
3Coconut Oil Pulling
Can it be true? Coconut oil to clean
your teeth? Just when you thought you
heard it all when it comes to coconut
oil, along comes the news that coconut
oil pulling can serve as a natural teeth
whitener. Some people attest to their teeth
becoming whiter and overall healthier by
applying coconut oil to their teeth after
they brush, and most people praise the
results of oil pulling.
1Brush After Drinking
or Eating
The best way to whiten your teeth
naturally, however not always the easiest,
is to simply brush your teeth after eating
or drinking something. This takes a lot
of persistence and can even be kind of
difficult depending on where you are at
the time of eating (such as work or school).
Avoiding smoking cigarettes, drinking
too much coffee and/or soda, improving
your overall oral hygiene, and eating
a healthy diet also help prevent yellow
teeth. If you do regularly drink staining
beverages, do so through a straw and
try to cut back. Try to drink more plain
water after eating or drinking something
staining or acidic to help reduce the
negative effects.
Most food does not stain teeth, but
if you are a coffee drinker or if you
smoke, you can pretty much count on
having discoloured teeth over time due
to thinning enamel and/or staining. If
this is the case, then having your teeth
cleaned every three months may be in
order, besides trying some of the natural
remedies listed here.
2Baking Soda and
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is an antibacterial
agent and works great as a total mouth
and gum cleaner and keeps the mouth
free of germs. A good oral mouth rinse
can be made using hydrogen peroxide;
use half water and half hydrogen
peroxide, swish around in your mouth
for about one minute, and then rinse.
Research shows hydrogen peroxide
keeps breath fresh by eliminating bad
bacteria due to acting as a natural
antiseptic/antibacterial agent. It’s also
capable of providing natural protection
against gum diseases like gingivitis
and periodontitis.
e
For another way to use this product, mix
a small amount of hydrogen peroxide
with a small amount of baking soda in
order to make a paste that helps remove
more plaque from teeth. Results from
measurements of patients’ tooth surfaces
(such as facial, lingual, proximal and
gingival surfaces) also demonstrated
statistically greater reductions in mean
plaque scores when using baking soda
compared to when using baking sodafree
products.
To use these products safely to whiten
your teeth, brush your teeth as usual
first, making sure to reach the back of
the teeth too. Baking soda is a gritty
substance like sandpaper so be careful
that you have enough hydrogen peroxide
mixed in with the soda – because if you
Simply put a spoonful of coconut oil in
your mouth and swish it between your
teeth for five to 20 minutes, or add a few
drops to your toothbrush and brush it on.
Another option is to apply coconut oil to
a corner of a clean washcloth and rub it
on the teeth. A bonus regarding coconut
pulling? Coconut oil has antimicrobial
properties so it’s great for protecting and
cleaning your gums
as well.
A study featured in the Journal of
Contemporary Dental Hygiene found,
“Edible oil-pulling therapy is natural, safe
and has no side effects. Hence, it can
be considered as a preventive therapy at
home to maintain oral hygiene.”
Natural Health * October 2017 VOL 84
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