Turmeric is a root that has a bright orange or mustard color. It is usually dried, ground into a powder, and stored for a long time. Turmeric has been used for centuries in cooking because of its health benefits and woody flavor, especially in curries.

The main ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which has antioxidant, antibacterial, and healing properties. While turmeric is useful for health when eaten or applied to the skin, there is little proof that it can whiten teeth.

However, studies show that applying turmeric to the gums can help heal them, reduce plaque, and improve oral health by fighting bacteria and infections. But don’t expect it to be an effective teeth whitener.

Coconut Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is an old method of cleaning teeth that started in India. It involves swishing a tablespoon of oil—such as coconut, sesame, or any edible oil—around in your mouth for up to 20 minutes.

This practice helps reduce harmful bacteria, remove plaque, and improve oral health. Since plaque can make teeth look yellow, regular oil pulling may help your teeth appear whiter if you have plaque buildup. However, it is not very effective for removing stains from coffee or smoking.

Strawberries for Teeth Whitening

You might have heard that strawberries can help whiten teeth, but is it true?

Strawberries contain an enzyme called malic acid, which has natural bleaching properties. When applied to teeth, it can make them look whiter. A common method is to mash a strawberry, mix it with baking soda, apply it to your teeth for two minutes, then rinse. This can brighten your smile, but there’s a downside.

Malic acid is a mild acid that can wear down enamel if left on too long. Since enamel protects your teeth, using this method too often can cause damage. It’s safe only in moderation, and for long-term whitening, it’s best to choose a safer alternative.

On the bright side, strawberries are rich in vitamin C, magnesium, and calcium, which are great for teeth and gum health. While they might not be the best whitening solution, eating them can still support your oral health.

Natural Teeth Whitening Powders

Charcoal for Teeth Whitening

Charcoal has been used for cleaning teeth for centuries and has recently become popular online. It is made by slowly burning wood, coconut husks, or similar natural materials and then grinding them into a fine powder.

Because charcoal is mildly abrasive, it can help scrub away plaque, making teeth look whiter if the yellowing is due to plaque buildup. However, there is little proof that it can remove deeper stains.

Using charcoal too often can damage your enamel, the protective layer of your teeth. Once enamel wears down, teeth become more sensitive and prone to damage. So while charcoal may give temporary whitening results, it’s best to use it cautiously and not as a regular method.

Baking Soda for Teeth Whitening

Baking soda is often used as a natural teeth cleaner by mixing it with water or lemon juice to make a paste and applying it to the teeth. The American Dental Association considers baking soda safe, but it is not a strong teeth-whitening agent.

Like other natural remedies, it works mainly for mild plaque and surface stains. However, because baking soda is slightly abrasive, using it too often can wear down enamel, which protects your teeth. So while it can help with some discoloration, it’s best to use it in moderation.

Homemade Whitening Powders

Many homemade teeth whitening powders are made by mixing ingredients like baking soda, charcoal, turmeric, sea salt, calcium carbonate powder, or bentonite clay with essential oils like peppermint. Some may also include antibacterial ingredients like clove for added benefits.

While these mixtures help remove bacteria, clean teeth, and scrub away plaque, they are not effective for deep stains beyond the enamel. Since most of these ingredients are abrasive, frequent use can wear down enamel, making teeth more sensitive, prone to discoloration, and at higher risk for cavities and decay.

It’s no secret that Hollywood stars, particularly women, feel pressure to keep up their looks as they get older. We constantly hear about the latest cosmetic procedures and routines the celebs are doing to stay young.

But some decide to just embrace their own natural looks and age gracefully, like Justine Bateman, who recently spoke out about her decision to not have work done despite societal pressures…

Justine Bateman is an actress, director and writer best known for playing Mallory in the 1980s sitcom Family Ties when she was a teenager.

She also starred in Men Behaving Badly and had recurring roles in shows like Desperate Housewives and Still Standing. She’s the older sister of actor Jason Bateman.

“I just don’t give a s—,” she said in an interview with 60 Minutes Australia. “I think I look rad. I think my face represents who I am. I like it.”

“I feel like I would erase, not only all my authority that I have now, but also, I like feeling that I am a different person now than I was when I was 20. I like looking in the mirror and seeing that evidence.”

Justine Bateman is now 57, and like many actresses of her age she has faced pressure to get plastic surgery — but instead, she has decided to never get any work done and embrace her age.

Bateman said she received insulting comments about her looks from the time she was 40, and people compared her naturally-aging face to a “sea hag” and a “meth addict.” She felt pressure to get cosmetic surgery or botox.

“I thought my face looked fine,” she told People in 2021. “And then because of some of the fears I had, unrelated to my face, I decided to make them right and me wrong… I became really ashamed of my face, ridiculously so.”

But eventually Bateman decided to ignore the criticisms about her looks and embrace natural aging. “You’re not going to make that fear go away by changing your face,” she said.

“If you go and get plastic surgery, you’re going to look different. Okay. You’ll have that, but you haven’t dealt with what the fear was.

“That fear will continue… I think getting all this plastic surgery is just people pleasing.”

The actress, who previously wrote about this issue in her book Face: One Square Foot of Skin, said she feels “sad” for women preoccupied with cosmetic procedures and hopes they will embrace their natural beauty.

“I feel sad that they’re not just enjoying life,” she told 60 Minutes. “I feel sad that they are distracted from the things that they’re meant to do in life with this consuming idea that they’ve got to fix their face before anything else can happen.”

We think Justine Bateman looks beautiful! No one should feel pressure to change the way they look — thank you to Justine Bateman for encouraging more women to age naturally.

Please share this story if you agree with Justine Bateman!

After a night of too much fun, Bob found himself in an unexpected situation —standing before St. Peter at the Pearly Gates.

But instead of accepting his fate, he struck a deal to return to life… as a chicken. What followed was a feathery, egg-laying experience he never saw coming.

Stumbled into bed

Bob had a habit of enjoying his evenings a bit too much, and one night was no exception. He stumbled into bed late, slipping in quietly beside his peacefully sleeping wife. Unbeknownst to him, the night held more surprises than he could ever imagine.

As dawn broke, Bob didn’t wake up in his familiar bedroom but instead found himself standing before the majestic Pearly Gates.

“Am I dreaming?” he wondered aloud.

St. Peter, with a clipboard in hand, greeted him warmly.
“Bob, I’m afraid you passed away in your sleep.”

Bob’s jaw dropped.
“This can’t be! I’m not ready to go. I’ve got so much to live for!”

St. Peter, empathizing with his plight, offered a solution.
“Well, there is one way you can return—but only as a chicken.”

Bob, desperate to get back to life, reluctantly agreed. Before he could protest further, he was instantly transported to a nearby farm, now covered in feathers and clucking involuntarily.

Clucking Confusion

Bob, adjusting to his new reality as a hen, was greeted by a rather smug rooster.
“Well, well, look who’s new in the coop! How’s it going, hen?”

Bob hesitated, still bewildered by the situation.
“Not bad, but I’ve got this weird pressure inside me. I feel like I’m about to burst!”

The rooster chuckled.
“Ah, you’re ovulating. Don’t tell me you’ve never laid an egg before!”

Bob, wide-eyed, shook his feathery head.
“Never.”

“Well, it’s easy,” said the rooster. “Just relax and let nature take its course.”

After a moment of hesitation, Bob gave it a try. To his astonishment—and a bit of discomfort—out came an egg. Overcome with emotion, Bob felt the unexplainable joy of motherhood. He laid another egg, then another. Just as he was about to lay his third, a sharp smack to the back of his head jolted him awake.

“Bob! Wake up!” his wife hollered. “You’re drunk again and pooping in the bed!”

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