6 Inexpensive Ways to Whiten Your Teeth at Home
Searching for a solution to your yellow smile? From baking soda to strawberries, whiten your teeth at home with these DIY, homemade tips.
Bruce and Jeanne Lubin
Quick Tip for Whiter Teeth
Whenever possible, after drinking tea or coffee, smoking a cigarette, or eating an acidic, staining food, take a mouthful of water and swish it around in your mouth. Then swallow or spit it out. This quick rinse will clear out any lingering substances that can leave stains on your teeth.
DIY Whitening Toothpaste
Try incorporating baking soda into your tooth-brushing routine for whiter teeth. This kitchen staple has an abrasive texture and can break down the molecules that stain your teeth. On top of that, baking soda eliminates plaque and neutralizes the acids in your mouth to fend off bacteria—both of which prevent tooth decay. Simply swap your usual toothpaste with baking soda once or twice a week, max. For extra freshness, add a drop of a delicious and fresh essential oil like cinnamon, peppermint, or spearmint.
How to Use Peroxide to Get Whiter Teeth
Instead of throwing your hard-earned cash at the teeth-whitening industry, give peroxide a swish! Make sure you use the three percent solution, as anything stronger is not safe for your mouth. Swish a mouthful around for 30 seconds to one minute, then spit and rinse completely. Brush as you would normally. Repeat a few times per week, as necessary. Don’t use peroxide if you have mercury amalgam fillings, and speak with your dentist before trying any home whitening treatment. Money saved: $25-200 for at-home whitening treatments, $100-400 for dentist-dispensed take-home kits.
Prevent Stained Teeth
Here’s an easy tip for preventing stains while enjoying the beverages you love: Use a straw! Buy disposal straws or a couple washable plastic ones and sip your sodas, iced coffees, and iced teas worry-free! When you’re at a restaurant or bar, simply ask for one. Obviously, you probably won’t sip your wine through a straw, so that’s a sensible exception.
The Best Lipsticks to Make Your Teeth Look White
If you wear lipstick, choose wisely! Shades of purple or blue-based pinks can help teeth look whiter, while orangey browns will make them look yellowish.
Strawberry Teeth Whitener
Mash four to five strawberries with a half teaspoon of baking soda. Brush onto your teeth with a toothbrush and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Then rinse out and brush your teeth as usual, making sure no strawberry seeds got caught between your teeth. Repeat this process every night and you’ll start to see results in three to four weeks.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock.
About the Author
Bruce Lubin and Jeanne Bossolina-Lubin are the proud parents of three boys and more than a dozen books. After saving thousands per year using everyday tips and simple lifehacks, they started their own business in the hopes of sharing their knowledge with others. They have been known to go into their friends’ refrigerators to turn their eggs upside down so that they last longer.