Smile with confidence using these delicious expert tips for brightening your pearly whites with natural foods
We all want a bright, white smile on our big day, but at-home bleaching kits can be expensive and who has time for a trip to the dentist when you have catering on the brain? Luckily, we can find items in our very own kitchen that naturally whiten teeth. Celebrity cosmetic dentist/owner of NYC’s VIP Smiles Dr. Catrise Austin shares her secrets for getting a gorgeous grin.
Citrus Smiles // Just as lemons naturally bleach hair, they do the same for teeth. Dr. Austin recommends mixing three tablespoons of fresh lemon juice with one tablespoon of salt and use as a mouthwash. Afterwards, rinse and brush your teeth thoroughly, as the acidity in the lemons can cause erosion. Another citrus-y home remedy is rubbing an orange rind against your teeth.
Minty Fresh // Native Americans are said to have used sage to both freshen and whiten teeth. Rub fresh leaves of this soft shrub fresh against your teeth for instant brightening.
Eat Your Veggies // You’re likely doing some last-minute dieting, so select veggies that do double duty. Water-based greens, such as celery, cauliflower and cucumbers act as natural abrasives that scrub away stains, as well as stimulate saliva production, which acts as a natural mouthwash.
Berry White // Rumor has it that actress Catherine Zeta Jones uses strawberries to brush her pearly whites. True or not, research does show that malic acid in a single strawberry can reduce stains. By rubbing a fresh strawberry across each tooth, you can fight any stains that morning coffee might have triggered. Since berries can get pricey out of season, Dr. Austin has a formula for creating your own toothpaste—crush a strawberry with half a teaspoon of baking soda, mix well, and apply to teeth for no longer than five minutes. Rinse and brush well afterwards, and only do this treatment once a week, as the sugar and acid can damage the teeth enamel.
Photos, from top: Dr. Catrise Austin; oranges and lemons photo by Nina Matthews Photography/Flickr; sage photo by Maggie Hoffman/Flickr; cucumber and celery photo by .Larry Page/Flickr; strawberry photo by ^riza^/Flickr
