How to Get a White Smile at Home

A white smile is desired by many. If you frequently drink dark beverages such as wine, coffee and tea, your teeth may be discolored. Other causes of discolored teeth include smoking, certain medications such as those for high blood pressure, poor dental hygiene and disease. Instead of paying for an expensive dental office whitening treatment, you can apply your own whitening treatment at home. Some of the products needed are readily available in your pantry.

Things You'll Need

• Whitening trays
• Whitening strips
• Whitening toothpaste
• Cotton ball
• 1/2 lemon
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• Fluoride toothpaste
• 1 strawberry

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Instructions

• 1

  Use dentist-dispensed teeth whitening trays. The gel that comes with the whitening tray kit contains a higher bleach percentage than over-the-counter teeth whitening remedies. One two-week treatment and two touch-ups is all you need in a year to whiten your teeth.

• 2

  Apply over-the-counter whitening strips to your teeth. Most whitening strips use a peroxide-based gel to lift surface stains off your teeth. The strips come in various strengths. Some work within hours, while others take days to weeks for results to be noticeable.

• 3

  Use a whitening toothpaste instead of your regular toothpaste. Whitening toothpastes contain mild abrasives that help enhance your teeth, remove debris and plaque. According to WebMD, they can whiten your teeth up to one shade and can be used in addition to other tooth whitening methods.

• 4

  Mix the juice from half a lemon with 1/4 cup of baking soda. Dip a cotton ball into the mixture and apply it to your teeth. Leave it on for one minute. Rinse your teeth with water and brush them with toothpaste that contains fluoride. Apply this mixture to your teeth no more than once a week because the acid from the lemon juice can damage the enamel of your teeth.

• 5

  Mash up a strawberry with a fork. Place the pulp of the strawberry on your toothbrush and brush your teeth with the mixture. Rinse the pulp off your teeth and brush with a fluoride toothpaste. Strawberries contain malic acid, which promotes teeth whitening. Always brush your teeth afterward, because the sugar in the strawberries can cause cavities.