Natural Home teeth whitening / Teeth Whitening

Mashed strawberries

Brushing your teeth with mashed strawberries (as bizarre as it sounds) is a great way to whiten your teeth at home fast. This is due to the acidic content of the fruit acting as a mild bleaching agent. Simply mash up one or two ripe strawberries, dip your toothbrush into it and then brush your teeth as normal. When you’ve finished, be sure to rinse your mouth thoroughly with a pinch of bicarbonate of soda in order to reduce the acidity in the mouth and help to protect the teeth from any damage.

Coconut oil pulling

Jackson Abatemarco for rd.com, istock/Dawn-PolandOil pulling is an ancient Indian technique that simply involves swilling oil around your mouth for a few minutes, similar to the way you’d use a mouthwash. Coconut oil is considered a natural teeth whitening remedy, and a recent study backs up its oral-health benefits: Oil pulling using coconut oil actually helped to reduce plaque formation on the teeth and also helped to reduce gum disease. Here are surprising beauty uses for coconut oil.

Baking soda and lemon juice paste

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Do lemons really whiten your teeth? The short answer is yes. Lemons are high in citric acid, which acts as a kind of natural “bleach” for your teeth. This may sound alarming, but don’t fret. Mixing a teaspoon of lemon juice with enough baking soda to make a paste is actually a very effective, safe way to whiten teeth at home. Coconut oil pulling Baking soda is mildly abrasive (making perfect for gently removing surface stains) and is very alkaline, so helps to neutralize the natural acidity of the lemon juice.

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Activated charcoal

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If you’re looking for ways whiten teeth at home fast, activated charcoal could be another effective, all-natural alternative. Activated charcoal is made by processing charcoal with oxygen and calcium chloride, and is widely regarded as an effective tooth-whitening agent because of its highly absorptive properties. Explained very basically, activated charcoal is great at absorbing tannins, which are the compounds found in common tooth-staining drinks like coffee, tea, and wine. Simply dip your toothbrush into activated charcoal powder (make sure it’s the food-grade variety and not the stuff from under the barbeque) and brush as normal to remove any stains on your teeth.

Orange peel

iStock/JoyTasaRubbing your teeth with the inside of an orange peel is widely regarded as a safe, natural way to whiten your teeth at home. The white part of the peel (known as the albedo) contains limonene, a substance that contains natural solvent cleaners, and is actually used in many commercial teeth whitening products. Unlike the flesh of the fruit, orange peel is not acidic, so it is safe to use without the risk of the acidity of the fruit causing any damage to tooth enamel. Here are some more brilliant and surprising uses for orange peels.

Basil leaves and mustard oil

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Try crushing up dried basil leaves to form a mildly abrasive powder and mixing with mustard oil for a fast, effective way to whiten your teeth at home. You can also use fresh basil leaves crushed into a paste and applied directly onto the teeth using a tooth brush. Basil is said to help to protect the gums while mustard oil has antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties to promote great all-round oral health.

Apple cider vinegar

Jackson Abatemarco for rd.com, iStock/Erickson PhotographyApple cider vinegar is purported to have a number of health benefits (such as its antibacterial properties), but many don’t realize that it can actually be used as a natural teeth whitening remedy. Try brushing your teeth with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to help to remove stains, and then gargle with a mouthful to help freshen breath and kill bacteria around your gums.

Sea salt and baking soda

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Baking soda (or sodium bicarbonate) is widely regarded as a natural tooth whitening remedy because of its alkaline properties and due to the fact that it is abrasive enough to gently remove any stains. Adding sea salt to baking soda creates an antibacterial “tooth scrub” that counteracts the acids in the mouth and also eliminates bacteria.

Turmeric powder

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Turmeric is often used as a natural teeth whitening remedy because it is anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and contains antioxidants, making it effective for treating common dental problems like gum disease. In the form of a fine powder it acts as a gentle abrasive, removing surface stains and revealing whiter teeth in an instant. Simply rub about a teaspoon’s worth over your teeth using your finger, brush with a clean toothbrush and rinse.