10 Effective Home Remedies for Whitening Your Teeth at Home

There are many factors responsible for making your teeth lose its spark and shine. As we get older, our teeth naturally start to lose their white sparkle and become dull. Added to this, poor oral hygiene, plaque, and certain foods can stain our teeth or erode the enamel making it look yellow or light brown. But the good thing is that you don’t always have to spend a huge amount of money by visiting a dentist to get your teeth whitened. There are several natural home remedies that you can try to whiten your teeth. So check out these home remedies for teeth discolouration.

How to Whiten Your Teeth Naturally at Home

As you age, your teeth may start turning yellow.

Several factors cause the teeth to turn yellow, such as staining, thinning of the enamel, poor diet, using antibiotics, etc. To prevent this from happening further, certain lifestyle choices need to be incorporated. Limiting staining foods and sugar is necessary if you want to prevent your teeth from further damage. At the same time, eating nutritious foods and quitting smoking is also required.

To whiten the teeth that are already yellow, some of the issues that cause it must be tackled. Here are some methods to whiten your teeth naturally at home:

1. Baking Soda, Toothpaste, and Hydrogen Peroxide

The combination of baking soda, toothpaste, and hydrogen peroxide is an effective teeth whitening mix anyone can whip up at home. Baking soda acts as a mild scrub and hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent. A mix of the two can effectively remove stains and plaque on the teeth. To make them more effective, bind them with toothpaste. This will help them stay on the teeth for longer.

What You Will Need 

Toothpaste, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and a toothbrush.

How to Do 

• Take two teaspoons each of toothpaste and baking soda in a bowl and add one teaspoon of Hydrogen peroxide to it. Mix them well.
• Now spread the mixture on your teeth using a toothbrush.
• Leave the mixture on your teeth for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Later brush your teeth gently (with this mixture) and rinse your mouth.
• Brush again with regular toothpaste or plain baking soda to get rid of the hydrogen peroxide.

2. Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent which is used in commercial whitening products; it can bleach the teeth and help you get rid of stains on your teeth and whiten them. Baking soda is a gentle abrasive that can scrub away stains.

What You Will Need 

Baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, a soft toothbrush, and a small dish.

How to Do 

• Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with hydrogen peroxide in the small dish.
• Apply the paste using a soft toothbrush on the teeth.
• Brush gently in a circular motion for about 2 minutes.
• Then rinse your mouth with water and brush with regular toothpaste.

3. Coconut Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is an ancient technique used to remove bacteria and plaque from the teeth naturally. Coconut oil has antibacterial properties that keep the teeth clean and oil pulling makes them whiter.

What You Will Need 

Organic coconut oil, baking soda, and a toothbrush.

How to Do 

• Place one tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth.
• Swish and swirl it around for 5 to 20 minutes.
• Rinse your mouth.
• Dip a damp toothbrush in baking soda and brush your teeth with it.
• Rinse again.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has acetic acid that can help remove stains and break down plaque. It is also rich in probiotics, minerals, and enzymes which keep the mouth bacteria-free.

What You Will Need 

Apple cider vinegar, a toothbrush, and baking soda.

How to Do 

• Take a mouth full of vinegar and swirl it around like mouthwash for 2 minutes. Then rinse your mouth.
• Dip the toothbrush in the vinegar and brush your teeth with it.
• Then rinse your mouth and brush your teeth with baking soda or regular toothpaste.

5. Lemon Juice and Baking Soda

Lemon juice is rich in citric acid which has a bleaching effect on the teeth. When combined with a mild abrasive such as baking soda, the mixture can treat your stains.

What You Will Need 

Lemon juice, baking soda, and a soft toothbrush.

How to Do 

• Mix one teaspoon of lemon juice with baking soda to make a thin paste.
• With a soft toothbrush apply the paste on your teeth.
• Gently brush in circular strokes for about 2 minutes.
• Rinse thoroughly with water.
• Later, brush your teeth with normal toothpaste.

6. Strawberry and Baking Soda Paste

Strawberries contain malic acid which is an effective stain remover. It is used in many commercial teeth whitening products. It is a mild abrasive which in combination with malic acid can effectively help you get rid of yellow teeth.

What You Will Need 

Strawberries, baking soda, mortar, and pestle.

How to Do 

• Crush a large strawberry in a mortar and pestle.
• Add half a teaspoon of baking soda to it.
• Crush and blend the mixture until it is smooth.
• Apply the mixture on your teeth and let it stay for about 5 minutes.
• Later rinse your mouth and brush your teeth with regular toothpaste.

7. Turmeric Powder Paste

Turmeric can help remove surface stains on the teeth and plaque and make your teeth whiter. It also has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that are important for healthy teeth.

What You Will Need 

Organic turmeric powder, a toothbrush, and water.

How to Do 

• Make a thin paste of turmeric powder with water in a small dish.
• Use a clean brush to apply the paste on the teeth.
• Brush gently for 2 minutes.
• Rinse with water and then brush teeth with a regular paste.

8. Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal has properties which allow it to absorb many types of chemical substances including the plaque accumulated on the teeth. A few treatments with activated charcoal can whiten your teeth.

What You Will Need 

Activated charcoal powder, one toothbrush for applying the charcoal, and one for brushing afterwards.

How to Do 

• Dip the clean, wet toothbrush into the charcoal powder.
• Apply the charcoal to your teeth in gentle circular strokes and cover your teeth with it.
• Let the powder sit in the mouth for 2 minutes; do not swallow the powder.
• Spit the powder out and rinse the mouth multiple times and brush off what is left with a clean toothbrush.

9. Homemade Whitening Toothpaste with Essential Oils

The combination of baking soda and coconut oil is a powerful plaque removing mixture. They also have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

What You Will Need 

Baking soda, organic coconut oil, peppermint oil, spearmint essential oil, and cinnamon bark oil.

How to Do 

• Mix equal parts of baking soda and organic coconut oil.
• Add a few drops of peppermint oil and cinnamon bark oil or spearmint essential oil depending on how you like it.
• Mash the mixture to get a consistent paste.
• Brush your teeth twice a day with this paste for a few days.

10. Lemon or Orange Peel and Salt Scrub

The inside or white-part of a citrus peel contains a substance called d-limonene. It is commonly used in commercially available teeth whitening products. Salt being a natural abrasive can help in the scrubbing process.

What You Will Need 

Orange or lemon peel and sea salt.

How to Do 

• Sprinkle a little sea salt on the inside of the fruit peel.
• Gently rub the salt side of the peel over your teeth for 2 minutes.
• Rinse thoroughly and brush your teeth with regular toothpaste.

FAQs

Here is a common question about teeth discolouration.

1. Are Yellow Teeth Hereditary?

Yes, the colour of your teeth, similar to the colour of your eyes or hair, is genetically determined; however, their shades, tones, and hues are distinct. Since the enamel is translucent, the hues of the teeth are largely determined by the dentine’s colour. There are other factors which contribute to the natural appearance of the teeth such as the thickness of the enamel surrounding the dentin, opalescence, and opaqueness.

When you try these home remedies properly, they can help you treat teeth discolouration caused by stains and plaque. However, don’t try these home remedies too frequently.

Also Read:

How to Deal with Teeth Sensitivity at Home
How to Treat Loose Motions (Diarrhoea) Naturally
Home Remedies to Remove Blackheads