Home remedies for that bright smile

It is the festive season, a time to be happy and greet loved ones with a lovely beam. Try these simple DIY (do-it-yourself) tips for that sparkle.

• Strawberry paste: Malic acid in strawberries is good for dissolving coffee, red wine and tea stains on the teeth. Mash up one or two strawberries and add a teaspoon of baking soda. Rub this mix on the teeth for five to seven minutes. Floss out any strawberry seeds that may get stuck between the teeth. However, don’t use it often, as the acid in the paste can cause enamel to erode, making them more susceptible to staining.
• Banana rub: You can use the inside of a banana peel, which is rich in potassium, magnesium, manganese and other minerals to whiten the teeth. The minerals are absorbed into the enamel and give a healthy whitening effect. After brushing teeth, peel a ripe banana and rub a piece of the peel on the teeth for two minutes. 
• Apple cider vinegar: A teeth rinse with diluted apple cider vinegar helps any toothpaste to crank up its stain-busting power. Dilute the mix in the ratio of three parts water to one-part apple cider vinegar. Then mix it with an all-natural toothpaste and brush the teeth.
• Coconut oil paste: Rubbing oil on teeth has been a traditional practice used in India since ancient times. The combination of saliva and fatty acids from coconut oil produce an oxygen molecule that bonds to the stains on the teeth. Heat one cup of coconut oil until it becomes liquid. Add two teaspoons of baking soda and five to 10 drops of natural spearmint essential oil into the coconut oil and mix. The spearmint is for flavour as well as to add antimicrobial benefits for healthy gums.
• Charcoal paste: Activated charcoal is gaining popularity because of its detoxifying benefits. It’s also a great DIY whitening solution. Make a paste of  charcoal and water and apply it to the the teeth. Leave the activated charcoal in place for two minutes, then rinse with water until all paste is gone.
• Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda paste:  It is one of the oldest at-home teeth whitening remedies. Mixing baking soda and hydrogen peroxide into a paste and using it as toothpaste is an easy DIY method. Simply add a few drops of three per cent hydrogen peroxide to plain baking soda and mix it until it forms a paste—then apply it to your tooth brush and brush normally. However, regular use can cause irritation of the gums and can be too harsh for those with crowns, fillings, and dental implants. Using correct proportions is the key to ensure that it is more helpful than harmful.

— Inputs from Dr Gunita Singh, cosmetic and laser dental surgeon, New Delhi.