A pearly white smile is one of the most coveted features in beauty today, and people are willing to try expensive methods to improve their smiles. The best methods don’t have to be expensive though, some of them can be found in your kitchen. With a little resourcefulness you can have the smile you’ve always wanted.

Yellow teeth are unsightly and embarrassing to have. The reasons why teeth become yellow in the first place include:

• Improper dental hygiene, lack of proper brushing.
• Too much consumption of caffeine-based drinks.
• Certain medicines can make teeth turn yellow.
• High level of fluoride in water
• There are foods like sweet potatoes and apples that can make teeth yellow.

The following home methods for whitening teeth have been helping people achieve a beautiful smile for years:

1. Hydrogen peroxide

This is the chemical used by dentists to whiten teeth. It is a bleaching agent. The product used by the dentist would be highly concentrated and can cause problems. At home, you can use 1% hydrogen peroxide and brush your teeth.

You need to use diluted hydrogen peroxide to prevent side effects like gum sensitivity. Instead of brushing, you can even use it as a mouthwash before brushing. Don’t use more than 1.5% concentration of hydrogen peroxide.

2. Fruits and vegetables

Consuming fruits and vegetables are good for health. It also can help in whitening teeth. Fruits like strawberries and pineapple when eaten rub on to the teeth and remove plaque as well as remove the yellow color from teeth.

3. Coconut oil pulling

It is believed that swishing oil in the mouth kills bacteria and removes the yellow stains. Studies have shown that doing this daily can reduce symptoms of gingivitis and can help remove plaque.

To do this, take a spoonful of virgin coconut oil and swish in your mouth. Do this for 10 minutes and spit it out. Once you are done, go ahead with brushing as usual.

4. Citrus peels

The peel of citrus fruits like lemon and orange is believed to help clean the enamel and remove stains. Scrub your teeth using the peel of a lemon or an orange. After a few minutes, brush your teeth as usual.

Since citrus is acidic, excess scrubbing may damage the enamel. Care should be taken not to scrub too hard.

5. Preventive measures

To whiten your teeth, you can prevent them from becoming yellow in the first place. The following preventive measures can be helpful:

• Limit foods and drinks like coffee, soda, dark berries, and sweet potato that stain the teeth.
• Cut down sugar consumption, this helps to prevent the growth of the bacteria that causes plaque.

You need to strengthen the enamel to ensure the teeth is white. This can be done by consuming calcium-rich foods like milk and milk products. Proper dental hygiene is very important to prevent stains on teeth. Brushing and flossing twice a day is a must. An annual dental cleaning should also be a part of your plan.