Some women don’t laugh openly to hide their yellow teeth. While some use store-bought toothpastes to get white teeth, others avoid eating foods that can lead to staining. If you are looking for a home remedy to whiten teeth, you shouldn’t follow it blindly. Not all of them work and they might add on to your problems. If we talk about oral health, you must have heard people suggesting strawberry for teeth whitening. You might think that you don’t have to do much when it comes to using strawberry for oral health. You just have to take a few pieces of the juicy fruit and rub them on your teeth. Let’s find out if this home remedy is helpful for teeth whitening or not.

To find out about strawberry and its benefits, HealthShots connected with Dr Sageer Aazaz, Head Of Department, Dental, Paras Health, Gurugram.

Health benefits of strawberries

Strawberry as a fruit is beneficial for our health, as it is rich in vitamins, minerals, and fibres. It also contains a healthy number of compounds that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, says Dr Aazaz. No wonder why strawberry homemade face packs work for some so well.

He says that you can even find phytochemicals and flavonoids such as catechin, anthocyanins, quercetin and kaempferol. They help in protecting against cardiovascular diseases, promoting good bowel movements, maintaining blood pressure and regulating blood sugar.

Strawberry for teeth whitening

Strawberry is said to have a natural whitening agent called the malic acid. But the expert says that the concentration of malic acid in strawberry is relatively low. That means you would have to take a significant number of strawberries to see any noticeable whitening effects on your teeth. Also, the sugar content in this sweet fruit can be harmful to teeth, especially if you consume it in large quantities. He recommends to rinse your mouth with water after eating strawberries or rubbing them on your teeth to remove any remaining sugar or acid from your teeth.

The expert says that strawberry may provide some mild whitening benefits, but they should not be relied upon as a primary teeth-whitening solution. He stresses on maintaining good oral hygiene habits such as brushing and flossing regularly. A dentist can also help with professional teeth cleaning and whitening treatments.

Mixing strawberry with other natural whitening ingredients

Instead of just using lots of strawberries, you can use natural ingredients with them to potentially enhance their teeth-whitening effects. Here are some combinations you can try.

1. Baking soda

If you mix mashed strawberries with a small amount of baking soda, it can create a natural tooth-whitening paste. Baking soda, which is mildly abrasive, can help to remove surface stains on teeth, says Dr Aazaz.

2. Coconut oil

Coconut oil does more than just naturally moisturising your skin and hair. Combine it with mashed strawberries to create a natural tooth-whitening mouthwash. Coconut oil has lauric acid, which can help to reduce plaque build-up and ultimately, improve oral hygiene.

Natural ways to whiten teeth

You can go beyond strawberry for teeth whitening.

Here are some options –

• Swishing a slight amount of sesame oil in your mouth for 10 to 15 minutes can help in the removal of germs and plaque from teeth, resulting in a brighter smile.
• Acetic acid in apple cider vinegar can help to get rid of surface stains on your teeth. But don’t go overboard with it, as it might damage dental enamel.
• Activated charcoal, which is a fine, black powder, can help to absorb toxins and remove surface stains on teeth.

But remember that these home remedies should be used with caution and not relied upon as a substitute for professional dental care.