Who hasn’t dreamt of having whiter teeth? That real ‘celeb smile’. The problem is that many of the treatments the ‘celebs’ use are prohibitively expensive. With life being expensive enough, you probably don’t want to break your bank account just paying to have a brighter smile, as much as you want it. However, there are options available. Affordable options, and we’re going to discuss the best of them with you.
We’ve got a few options for you. Both natural, and store-bought. This way, you can choose something that suits your budget. We’re also going to bust some of the ‘teeth whitening’ myths, because there are some treatments that the internet regularly touts as being fantastic but, honestly, they’re anything but. In fact, some are just downright dangerous for your mouth. More on that soon, though.
Let’s crack on with the options that do work.
Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide Paste
For many on a budget, this is a ‘go-to’ method for teeth whitening. You’ll probably have some baking soda in your pantry too, so all you need is some hydrogen peroxide and you’re ready to whiten your teeth.
While baking soda and hydrogen peroxide can be used independently of one another to whiten your teeth, we recommend you use the two of them mixed into a paste. They’re a real dream team. Baking soda is mildly abrasive, so it will gently remove the stains on your teeth (and, honestly, stains are where most of the whitening issues come from). Hydrogen peroxide will help to bleach your teeth, giving it a real glow.
Making your paste is easy. Mix a tablespoon of baking soda into two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. Give it a mix so it looks like toothpaste. Now, scrub away. You can use it just like toothpaste, just take care not to get the paste on your gums. It isn’t the biggest issue in the world if you do, but you might get some light irritation if it happens too frequently. Use just 2-3 times per week.
The major benefit is that it is cheap and incredibly easy to make. However, you shouldn’t use this combo long-term. It can damage the enamel of your teeth thanks to the constant bleaching and abrasion. As we said, 2-3 times per week should do it. But, as soon as you’ve reached your desired whiteness, stop.
Whitening Toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste works. We wouldn’t say that it is the most effective method possible, but if you’ve got lightly stained teeth, then you should notice an improvement in the colour in a week or so.
The main benefit of whitening toothpaste is that it doesn’t take a lot of effort to incorporate it into your cleaning regime. We assume you’re brushing your teeth anyway, so just switch toothpaste and you’re good to go. It’s killing two birds with one stone. The problem is that ingredients tend to be a bit milder than some of the other options on this list, so heavy staining and discolouration may be an issue. You’ll lighten up the colour, but perhaps not as much as you would hope.
Natural Whitening Methods
We’ve got a couple of options that can help to naturally whiten your teeth. Again, not as effective as some other options, but if you’re looking for more subtle changes to the colour of your teeth, then they might just be the ticket.
Oil Pulling with Coconut Oil
Oil pulling with coconut oil, essentially, involves swishing some coconut oil around your mouth. A teaspoon of coconut oil for around five minutes should do the trick. While some people suggest that all oils would work, coconut oil is probably the best for the job. Not only is it healthier, but it does have some much more noticeable benefits. Even dentists are touting the advantages of oil pulling with coconut oil, and often they are reluctant to suggest natural remedies.
Coconut oil contains lauric acid. Lauric acid is fantastic at killing bacteria in your mouth. It can also reduce the formation of plaque (which makes your teeth a little discoloured). Because it can also kill the bacteria in your mouth, coconut oil can help to remedy bad breath, reduce inflammation, and even numb tooth pain (although, if these are real issues, get to a dentist as soon as you can).
Eating Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables
Eating certain fruits and vegetables can help to clean your teeth naturally. If something has a bit of a crunch, e.g. carrots and apples, then when you crunch down, the abrasion will ‘polish’ the teeth a little bit. Of course, you also have the side benefit of getting some useful nutrients into your diet.
Limitations of Natural Methods
While these natural methods can help to whiten your teeth, the results are much slower and far more subtle. You might not even notice any benefit for weeks. While we do recommend that you try natural methods to whiten your teeth, it is probably better using these natural methods alongside other proven methods.
Teeth Whitening Strips
If you head to a pharmacy (or wherever you buy your teeth whitening products), then you’ll notice that teeth whitening strips can be quite expensive. However, whitening strips don’t need to break the bank for them to be effective. You’ll just need to make sure that you buy well.
Are Cheap Whitening Strips Worth It?
Yes. Although, it does depend on which product you purchase. Branded strips (e.g. Crest 3D Whitestrips) are often better than their generic equivalents. This is because branded strips use more of the required active ingredients to whiten your teeth. This means that you get a bigger bang for your buck, since your teeth will whiten far quicker than cheaper alternatives. That’s not to say generic strips are not an option, it is just that very rarely are they any good. In our experience, if you buy too cheaply, then it just isn’t worth it.
Best Budget Whitening Strips
Crest 3D White Whitestrips will set you back at least £20, although you’re probably looking at spending at least £28 for a proper course of treatment.
Dentelo Professional Whitening Strips are a little more affordable, offering 28 whitening strips for roughly £12. The problem is that there isn’t as much in the way of active ingredients, meaning that you’ll probably pay broadly the same amount you would for the Crest 3D Whitening Strips if you want the same level of whiteness.
Avoid These Common Whitening Mistakes
As we said, there are methods on the internet that don’t work, and could potentially damage your teeth. Avoid them.
Lemon Juice and Charcoal
In theory, lemon juice and charcoal works. Charcoal is great for stain pulling, and lemon juice will loosen all of the muck on your teeth. So, you will notice results. However, you shouldn’t do it.
Lemon juice is basically sugar. Sugary acid. What don’t you want to rub on your teeth? That’s right. Sugar. The acidity of the lemon juice will slowly eat away at your enamel. This can cause cavities, tooth sensitivity, and more. It happens quite quickly too.
Over-Whitening
Teeth whitening should be done sporadically. While teeth whitening will whiten your teeth, every time you do, you could be doing a small amount of damage to them. Wearing down the enamel, causing sensitive gums, etc.
We recommend that you whiten your teeth at most 2-3 times per week when you’re trying to reach your goal colour. However, once you do, do it at most 1 time per week. If you’re using stronger chemicals (e.g. what you would find in teeth whitening strips), then follow the instructions on the product.
What Cheap Whitening Method is Best For You?
While a combo of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide may be the cheapest option, it may not necessarily be the best. It is a quick method as you’ll just be brushing your teeth, but it might not be as effective on deeper stains. If you’ve got a bit more cash to splash, then teeth whitening strips may be ideal. However, they aren’t a great option if you’ve got highly sensitive teeth. Whitening toothpaste may be better. We promise you all of the options on this list work, though. Just try to balance your budget with your goals, and you’ll easily find a solution that works for you.
