Dentist approves of two kitchen staples to naturally brighten your teeth

While cosmetic dentistry and good oral hygiene are the most effective ways to achieve pearly whites, there can be additional ways to make your teeth whiter.

Director of Serene, Dr Safa Al-Naher said: “Baking soda is mildly abrasive and has been used historically to remove stains on the teeth.”

However, due to its abrasive quality, you shouldn’t use baking soda too often.

Dr Al-Naher elaborated: “You wouldn’t use a very abrasive face scrub too often because you could wear away or cause a lot of damage to your skin.

“And it’s the same thing with teeth. You don’t want to scrub them too hard with something too abrasive.”

Baking soda has the benefit of reducing acidity in the mouth, which could reduce the risk of tooth decay.

Dr Al-Naher explained: “Tooth decay is caused by acid from bacteria and also acid in general in the mouth.”

By bringing up the pH in the mouth, baking soda can be considered to be a good addition to oral hygiene.

Dr Al-Naher affirmed she doesn’t see anything wrong with using baking soda on the teeth, but it’s not a replacement for fluoride.

Dr Al-Naher said: “Toothpaste contains fluoride and it’s the fluoride that has many more proven benefits to teeth in terms of reversing tooth decay.”

Fluoride toothpaste has been proven to strengthen enamel, which is why baking soda should not replace regular teeth brushing.

Another kitchen cupboard staple Dr Al-Naher approves of brushing teeth with is coconut oil. 

Dr Al-Naher explained: “There’s not a lot of evidence for coconut oil, but there is some anecdotal evidence to show that it can be beneficial.”

Coconut oil can be compared to some medicated mouthwashes in terms of plaque control, the expert stated.

“It can also kill some bacteria,” said Dr Al-Naher, although coconut oil could also kill off good bacteria in the mouth.

Dr Al-Naher emphasised: “Coconut oil shouldn’t be used as a replacement to fluoride toothpaste because it’s not going to make your teeth stronger.

“But it has been used for centuries all over the world, so there is some evidence for it.”