Teeth whitening is one of the hot trends today and every year, increasing
numbers of both men and women go for it. There are several different ways to
whiten and brighten teeth. Chemical gels and bleaches combined with lasers can
give great results quite quickly. Another prominent trend visible today is the
preference for natural products (those without chemical additives). Thus, there
is an increasing demand for natural teeth whitening solutions.
There is a greater understanding that chemical whitening agents like carbamide
peroxide and hydrogen peroxide can do damage, however minor. This is why many
people prefer natural teeth whitening products.
This is in fact a global trend and in response to the demand, a greater variety
of natural teeth whitening products are appearing in the market. The
effectiveness of these products is also going up.
Among the most common whitening products available are toothpastes containing
various herbal ingredients that can reduce plaque accumulation on the teeth.
They can also remove stains on the teeth. Both these results usually take place
only over an extended timeframe - the products need to be used regularly for
results to become visible.
What herbal / natural ingredients are commonly used in whitening products? There
is a wide variety of such ingredients - including sodium chloride, bamboo
powder, calcium carbonate, silica and others.
Tea tree oil is sometimes used along with other ingredients. This essential oil
can reduce bacteria formation in the mouth and also control bad breath. Other
essential oils that help include spearmint, almond and peppermint oils. One or
more of these oils can be found in many natural teeth whitening products and
even regular toothpastes that contain herbal ingredients.
These herbal products act not just to help teeth whitening but also improve oral
health. This is one reason for the increasing preference for such products in
comparison to chemical whitening agents.
In general, natural teeth whitening products tend to be less costly than their
chemical counterparts. This makes it easier for people to try them out to
satisfy their curiosity. Very often, they are happy with the results they see
from natural products and tend to continue using them.
Many of these products do work fairly well. But there is a downside - they are
quite slow in producing results. They must be used over a period of time before
the teeth become whiter.
One of the big plus points is that these natural teeth whitening products do not
produce any side effects. This is unlike chemical bleaching agents which can
result in tissue damage and other problems if used incorrectly. Chemical based
products must be used precisely according to instructions, or they are
dangerous. Natural products generally do not pose such threats to health, even
if they are not used exactly as recommended.
The action of the natural products is usually safer than those of chemical
whiteners. Chemicals can damage the teeth enamel, which can cause long-term
problems. They can also damage tissues, as mentioned above. Natural products
don't have such risks. This is a major reason why people use natural products,
even when results can take longer to appear.
Natural remedies are based on scientific principles. It is known that common
salt for instance, can improve enamel color and do it safely. These natural
remedies are based on thousands of years of observation and knowledge. Their
action has been proven scientifically and modern medicine makes use of many of
the age-old remedies.
When using natural teeth whitening agents, it is best to avoid doing things that
bring about teeth damage. These include drinking excess red wine, tea and
coffee. Smoking is also a major cause of stained and damaged teeth (apart from
the extensive damage it does to other body organs). Heavily advertised
carbonated and flavored drinks do considerable teeth damage as well.
In summary, natural teeth whitening products can do what their chemical
counterparts can, while being safer and free of undesirable side effects.
