How to Make Teeth Whiter

Pearly white teeth are a sign of good dental hygiene and they look great in photos. Keeping your teeth white can be a challenge because many foods we eat can cause surface stains and cavities. Brushing your teeth regularly, flossing and using teeth whitening products can help brighten your smile. There are also teeth whitening gels, pastes and mouthwashes, though a bleaching treatment from your dentist's office is the most effective remedy. Follow the instructions below for teeth whitening treatments you can do at home.

Things You'll Need

• Baking soda
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Fresh strawberries
• Banana peels
• Whitening mouthwash

Instructions

1. Brush your teeth with baking soda and peroxide or a whitening toothpaste recommended by your dentist. Many name-brand toothpastes now contain baking soda to help remove surface stains from coffee, tea, and soda, and many bleaching systems contain hydrogen peroxide to help users make their teeth whiter. Dip your toothbrush in a small amount of peroxide and then dip it into the baking soda. Brush your teeth for at least two minutes and rinse your mouth well. Brush your teeth using your regular toothpaste for at least 30 seconds afterward. While this method is very effective in helping most people achieve a whiter smile, you should only use it once or twice a week to prevent tooth sensitivity.

2. Eat plenty of strawberries. Strawberries contain malic acid, a natural bleaching agent that may be just as effective as name brand teeth-whiteners. You can even mash a strawberry and apply it directly to your teeth to brighten your smile gently and effectively.

3. Try rubbing a ripe banana peel on your teeth every day. Simply use the inside of a banana peel to massage your teeth for at least two minutes before brushing. You should see a stunning improvement in your smile in as little as two weeks.

4. Use a whitening mouthwash to get whiter teeth and kill bacteria in the mouth. Whitening mouthwashes work well for removing surface stains on the areas of your teeth that are hard to reach with a toothbrush or dental floss. Swish the liquid in your mouth for at least 60 seconds twice daily to make your teeth whiter and improve your smile.

5. Avoid using products that make your teeth whiter but create long-term problems. Many household products have received acclaim on the Internet for producing bright smiles, but most dentists don't agree with the claims. Brushing your teeth in lemon or lime juice, salt brine or household bleach will whiten your teeth, but the results are only temporary and they come at a high cost.

   Lemon juice, lime juice and bleach can wear away the enamel of the teeth and expose the yellow dentin beneath, while salt brine destroys the delicate tissue of the gums, which can cause your teeth to become dislodged and fall out. If you're unsure about the safety of teeth-whitening products, talk to your dentist.

Tips & Warnings

• Sip beverages through a straw to prevent surface stains.

• Smoking yellows your teeth. Stop smoking to maintain your new, brighter smile.

• To learn more about dental health, see Resources below.

• Sensitive teeth may indicate a serious condition that your dentist needs to know about.

• Talk to your dentist before attempting to whiten your teeth on your own.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• American Dental Association