If your teeth are yellow in your 60s, you aren’t the only one. This is one of the most common oral health complaints, but also one of the easiest to fix. Unfortunately, it’s natural for teeth to get darker as we age, because the enamel on the tooth wears and the dentin below, which is yellow, can show.

Your medication may also be causing your teeth to turn yellow, as can chemotherapy and trauma to the tooth.

Luckily, you don’t have to spend a fortune to restore your teeth. Sure, you might be brushing and flossing every day but did you know this isn’t all you should be doing to keep your teeth healthy? You need to eat a good diet, too.

Below are a number of easy things you can do, starting today, to improve your smile and get your confidence back.

1. Hydrogen peroxide 

Rinse your mouth several times per week with hydrogen peroxide. This chemical is a mild bleaching agent and is a great natural alternative to store-bought mouthwash. Swish it around in your mouth for at least 30 seconds and do not swallow.

2. Drink more water

The more clear saliva you have, the better off your teeth will be. This is because the higher the pH level in your mouth, the better your chance of fighting off bacteria that causes cavities.

3. Lemon whitener

Simply mix 3 tablespoons of bicarb soda with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice into a cup. With a cotton bud, gently swab the mixture onto your teeth. Leave it on for 30 seconds then rinse and your brush teeth.

4. Eat strawberries

Cut and smash 3 strawberries into a small bowl. Mix in 1 table spoon of sea salt and 1 table spoon of bi-carb soda. The strawberries are high in Vitamin C which helps to break-down plaque. It also contains enzymes called malic acid which can also help to remove surface stains. The salt creates a scrub to help assist the strawberries. Place the mixture on a toothbrush and brush as normal.

5. Eat foods that won’t stain your teeth

Eating the right foods can help prevent teeth stains. Eating apples, carrots and celery after a big meal can remove stain organically. Citrus fruits, such oranges, can help generate additional saliva that will contribute to removing stains. Crunchy foods such as nuts can help take away a lot of the glucose and chemical substances that lead to stains.

6. Try coconut oil pulling

It is claimed to whiten your teeth, make your breath fresher and lead to massive improvements in oral health.

Although unproven, many people claim that it also improves their health in other ways.

Oil pulling involves swishing oil around the mouth, using it like a mouthwash. It has been used for thousands of years as an Ayurvedic remedy. To do it, put a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth, then swish it around for 15-20 minutes and spit out.

7. Make your own remineralising toothpaste

This remineralising toothpaste from Wellness Mama is a great alternative to store-bought toothpaste, and it actually works.

Ingredients

• 5 parts Calcium powder
• 2 parts Baking Soda
• 3 parts Xylitol Powder– This ingredient is not completely necessary, but just keeps it from tasting bitter.
• 3-5 parts coconut oil to get desired texture
• Optional ingredients: Essential oils for flavor (mint, cinnamon, and orange are all good), Myrrh and Trace Minerals

Instructions

1. Mix all powdered ingredients (calcium, Baking Soda, Xylitol) well in a bowl.
2. Add Coconut Oil one part at a time until you get desired consistency.
3. Add any optional ingredients, including Essential Oils for flavor (my favorite is Peppermint Orange)
4. Store in small container like ½ pint glass jar. To use, either dip clean toothbrush into it, or use Popsicle stick or spoon to put on toothbrush. I’ve also thought of storing in a plastic bag with a corner cut off to be able to squeeze like toothpaste, but haven’t tried it yet.

Tell us, what are your teeth like?