Health

The 10 easy teeth whiteners you might find in your cupboard

Starts at 60 Writers

Sep 15, 2016

As much as you brush, floss and care for your teeth, they can still start to appear yellow as you age.

While there are plenty of fancy toothpastes and tooth whitening products on the market, some of them can be costly.

What if there was a way to make your teeth whiter using every day items in your home?

Chances are you’ll be able to find these 10 natural teeth whiteners in your cupboard.

1. Orange peel

As an acidic citrus fruit, orange is a very handy tooth whitener. Regular cleaning with fresh orange peel can help reduce the yellow tinge on your teeth. All you have to do is rub the peel on your teeth before going to sleep for a few weeks and you will notice your teeth become whiter. Apparently, the vitamin C and calcium in the peel will keep microorganisms at bay as you sleep. You can also use dried orange peel powder.

2. Salt

It turns out salt is actually a popular tooth cleaning product. Not only can it give back some of the minerals lost in your teeth, it also makes them whiter. Try using in the morning as a tooth powder instead of toothpaste. Or you can try mixing with charcoal and baking soda and rubbing it gently on your teeth. You have to be careful when using salt, as it can damage your gums and enamel if you’re too rough when brushing or rubbing your teeth it.

3. Strawberries

As another natural teeth whitener high in Vitamin C, strawberries are becoming more and more popular as a dental product. Try crushing up a few strawberries into a paste. Gently rub the paste on your teeth twice a day and you’ll notice the yellow colour on your teeth fading. You can also try mixing the paste from one strawberry with half a teaspoon of baking soda. Spread it on your teeth and leave it sit for a few months. Be sure to rinse out your mouth and brush away any residue.

4. Baking Soda

It seems like baking soda can be used for just about anything, including whitening your teeth. Not only does it help remove plaque, it also gives your teeth a pearly white shine. There are several ways you can use it on your teeth. Try mixing a quarter of a teaspoon of baking soda with toothpaste and brushing your teeth with it once or twice a week. Another option is to mix baking soda with lemon juice, vinegar or hydrogen peroxide and rubbing it on your teeth. Baking soda also is useful as a mouth wash, mix one table spoon with one and a half teaspoons with hydrogen peroxide and a cup of cold water, rinse your mouth two or three times a day and your teeth will whiten too.

Read more: Restore your yellow teeth at home

5. Banana peel

Banana skin works the same way as an orange peel. Simply rub a banana peel over your teeth for two minutes each day. The potassium, manganese and magnesium in the banana peel will absorb into your teeth and help get rid of the yellow stains on your teeth.

6. Charcoal

Before you go rubbing your teeth with charcoal from your barbecue, read on. The charcoal used for whitening teeth is known as activated charcoal and can be purchased in powder form. There are a number of ways you can use it to whiten your teeth. Clean your toothbrush and wet it, drop into the powdered charcoal and brush your teeth in small, gentle circles for two minutes. Your mouth and teeth will turn black – but don’t panic. Spit and rinse really well and your teeth will be whiter and feel cleaner than before. Charcoal can be very messy, try not to get it every where in your bathroom.

7. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has so many uses, so it’s no surprise you can use it to whiten your teeth. The process is called oil pulling. All you have to do is swish a small amount of coconut oil in your mouth for 20 minutes every morning before you eat. It’ll protect your teeth from plaque and enamel.

8. Lemon juice

Lemon is acidic and very good for whitening your teeth. Just mix some bi-carb soda (three tablespoons) with two tablespoons of lemon juice and swab the mixture on your teeth with a cotton bud. Leave it for 30 second, rinse it out and brush your teeth.

9. Vaseline

It may not sound very appealing, but rubbing a layer of petroleum jelly onto your teeth will help stop food from staining your teeth. Sure it’s not likely to instantly whiten your teeth, but over time it’ll keep them whiter for longer.

10. Tumeric

It’s commonly used to dye things yellow, but apparently tumeric can whiten your teeth. In fact, in India it’s a widely used teeth whitener. Not only does it whiten teeth, it also cleanses your teeth and protects your gums from infection. Try mixing one table spoon of tumeric powder with an equal amount of water until you have a thick paste. Brush your teeth with the paste gently for a few minutes and spit and rinse until the water comes out clean.

If you notice any of these products having side effects on your teeth or dental hygiene, you should stop using them immediately and seek treatment from a dentist.