Most people know how important dental care is for well being, but economic hardships prevent them from seeking out the professional attention of a dentist required of the task. That is why 0900-DENTIST encourages individuals struggling to maintain dental health to exercise, eat a healthy diet and raid their own kitchen cupboard for inexpensive and natural alternatives to keep teeth clean and minimize the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

The struggle for dental health is an age old battle and the war used to be fought with devices such as twigs, animal quills, buffer cloths and ashes. Now modern dental care products including toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental floss are the norm and combined with a variety of cupboard staples (including but not limited to coffee, tea and salt), proving dental health on the cheap is as simple as a quick trip to the supermarket.

Apple Cider Vinegar

There is no healthier cupboard staple than good old apple cider vinegar. The liquid has been attributed to prompting health weight loss, providing energy to those in need and for being able to cure the hiccups. The ancient food is also considered to be an effective and affordable way to whiten teeth on a budget.

Apple cider vinegar can help cut through the stain build up on teeth, in order to get the benefits, gargling and spitting out the fluid is recommended and then brushing teeth using either baking soda or toothpaste. This type of vinegar can help remove the color build up associated with tooth staining, kill the oral bacteria associated with bad breath and tooth decay and also whiten teeth.

In is important that individuals relying on apple cider vinegar to whiten teeth do not swallow an excess of the liquid. Published research surrounding an Austrian patient who had consumed excessive amounts of apple cider vinegar (up to 250ml per day) for six years found that high dosage intake of apple cider vinegar can reduce bone density and lead to osteoporosis (a health issue linked to a several dental problems) (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9736833).

Baking Soda and Lemon Juice

While apple cider vinegar may indeed be a miracle fluid, not everyone can stomach the taste associated with the compound. Individuals looking to get whiter teeth from their pantry can choose to rely on a mix of baking soda and lemon juice instead.

Citrus fruits are one of nature’s most available bounties and they also pack a nutritional punch of Vitamin C and flavonoids. Eaten in its natural state citrus fruits are some of the best snacks around as the foods can help prevent tooth decay as the process will increase the saliva production in person (essential to washing away trace sugars and oral bacteria, the critters that form dental plaque), plus lemon juice is a known tooth whitener.

Baking soda has long been used to clean teeth; Ancient Egyptians used a derivative of the substance as a cleaning agent, because of the slightly abrasive nature. Plus baking soda is an acid neutralizer that can effectively remove tooth stains and excess buildup on dental enamel.

Combining the ingredients, (approximately 1/4 cup of baking soda and  half a lemon worth of juice), thoroughly coating teeth with the mixture (using a cotton ball) and letting it sit a minute is the first step to cut through the grime. Then individuals must brush their teeth to remove the compound and prevent any accidental erosion, that can be triggered by the high acid levels in the fruit juice (http://www.pantryspa.com/beauty-remedies/mouth-remedies/dr-oz-teeth-whitening-home-remedy-baking-soda-lemon-juice/).

Clove Oil

Most people have a love/hate relationship with the pungent spice called clove. The compound is actually dried, aromatic flower buds that are used to flavor foods and even for holiday decorations (courtesy of the traditional Christmas-time orange and clove balls). The devices are also hugely popular in Indian Ayurvedic medicines and can be used to temporarily relieve tooth pain.

When clove is extracted and pressed to create an essential oil, it becomes a powerful and natural dental pain reliever.  Some research on the subject has found that “…a homemade clove gel may be as effective as benzocaine 20% gel” and if  combined with zinc oxide paste, the medicine may effectively treat dry socket, the condition of inflammation after tooth extraction (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clove#Traditional_medicinal_uses).