A smile is one of the first few things that you notice in a person. And since the first impression is the last impression, we can’t let those yellow teeth steal our thunder, right? Living with a bunch of wrong lifestyle habits such as tobacco and cigarette consumptions or the tea and coffee addictions takes a toll on our oral health, and specifically, our teeth.  Here is our very own, easily available ‘Shine Squad’ that could come to your rescue and shield your perfect 32!

• Baking Soda

               Due to its alkaline properties, baking soda helps neutralize the acidic activity in the mouth which is responsible for breaking down the enamel of a tooth. Also, scrubbing action of sodium bicarbonate particles leads to removal of surface stains. It can be used along with the toothpaste while brushing.

• Lemon

               Lemon is universally known to be an antibacterial and a bleaching agent. It works it’s magic over teeth too. The yellowish discolouration of teeth can be gotten rid of by regular use of lemon juice for gargles or lemon peel over the teeth.

• Hydrogen Peroxide

                Used extensively by the dentists as an aid to oral health, mouthwashes containing hydrogen peroxide could be used to remove the stains from your teeth. Although, extra caution is to be taken as it could make the teeth sensitive.

• Salt

               Salt has been an age old cleansing agent when it comes to the oral cavity. It helps replenish the lost mineral content, hence, reviving it’s lost spark. It can be used along with baking soda or charcoal to enhance whitening of teeth.However, care should be taken so that the salt particles do not roughen the tooth surface. 

• Fruits

               Crunchy fruits like apples and carrots act as natural toothbrushes. Chewing them removes excess bacteria and food particles. Also, they aid in removal of stains. Fruits like lemon, pineapple, and oranges contain a large amount of vitamin C. They tend to increase salivation which is a natural way of whitening the teeth.

• Holy Basil

                While holy basil (commonly known as tulsi) is a part of every household, what we are not aware of is its whitening properties and its effectiveness in healing periodontal diseases. This can be used in the form of a powder applied along with the toothpaste while brushing.    

• Margosa Plant

               Due to it’s astringent and antiseptic properties, Neem twigs have been used since ancient times in the form of a toothbrush. The chewing of these twigs helps in removal of yellow stains and also prevents bad breath.

• Milk products

               Milk products such as cheese and yogurt are enriched with phosphorus and calcium. This promotes re-mineralization of tooth enamel.  

• Apple Cider Vinegar

               This is often said to brighten up the smiles. Largely used as a whitener, regular gargles of apple cider vinegar show a remarkable difference in the shade of your teeth.

 If you deserve to shine, so do your pearly whites! Because when your smile is bright and white, everything turns right!