Your Des Moines dentist, Dr. Steve Burds, is proud to provide patients with professional level teeth whitening. Turning to your dentist for whitening help is generally the best recommendation if you want to have safe and significant results. There are some homemade whitening methods that aren’t likely to cause any harm, however, and could give you a little boost between professional whitening treatments. For the sake of fun, let’s look at some of these unusual do-it-yourself whitening methods.

Going Bananas for White Teeth

Bananas and coconuts sound like key ingredients for a tropical smoothie or an afternoon of cocktails. Both of these foods consist of white flesh encapsulated by a peel or shell. Bananas are certainly much easier to open than coconuts. The belief is that if you rub a banana peel on your teeth for at least two minutes, your smile will be whiter and brighter. Perhaps this can be credited to the high levels of potassium, magnesium, and manganese. Coconut oil has its own whitening potential, as well as being a new frontrunner in possibilities for gum disease obliteration. Swishing coconut oil around in your mouth can possibly brighten up your grin and make your smile healthier. This method called oil pulling requires a 20 minute commitment each time you do it, but the coconut flavor is likely to be more pleasant than other oils might be.

Soothing a Sunburn while Whitening Your Teeth

Aloe vera gel is the soothing center of a plant that is known to help with irritations of the skin. What about whitening? Research shows a high probability that aloe vera could be a welcome ingredient in future whitening products. You can try this at home with pure aloe vera, though you should refrain if you’re pregnant. The allow plant can induce uterine contractions.

Teeth Whitening from Des Moines Dentist

For truly impressive and safe whitening, consult with your Des Moines dentist. You can contact your 50309 dental office by calling (515) 244-9565. Located in the 50309 area, we proudly welcome patients from Des Moines, River Bend, Kirkwood Glen, East Village, and neighboring communities.