How to get a bright, white Hollywood smile the natural way

There is nothing more attractive than a beautiful smile with sparkling white teeth.

Most of us are born with teeth in good condition. However, several factors contribute towards the deterioration and discolouration of teeth, and we end up wishing for those pearly whites we were born with. 

From home remedies to advanced dental treatments, there are ways you can transform your teeth to a brighter, whiter shade.

Here are some home remedies to help you whiten your teeth and get a super, sparkling smile. 

Reasons for yellow teeth

We are not born with yellow or discoloured teeth. A variety of factors throughout our lives contribute towards this change and can be prevented.

There are several causes: 

• Poor dental hygiene – Inadequate brushing, lack of flossing to remove plaque, and forgetting to brush after eating or drinking stain-producing substances like coffee and tobacco can cause discolouration.
• Certain food and drinks – Coffee, tea, colas, red wine, and some fruit and vegetables like potatoes can produce stains that are difficult to shift.
• Smoking – This is one of the greatest causes of tooth discolouration as teeth are stained yellow or brown from the tobacco. 
•  Dental diseases – Some dental diseases can affect the enamel and the dentine of the tooth, causing discolouration.
• Certain treatments and medications – Treatments such as head and neck radiation, and chemotherapy can cause teeth to change colour. Medications such as antihistamines, antipsychotic drugs and blood pressure medication can do the same. Ironically, some mouth rinses can cause discolouration due to the presence of chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride. 
• Age – General ageing causes the outer layer of enamel to wear away, revealing the natural yellow colour of the dentine beneath the enamel. 
• Environmental factors – Water with a high fluoride content, or excessive use of products containing fluoride, such as rinses, toothpaste or fluoride supplements, can affect tooth colour.

Natural remedies for beautifully white teeth

Brush after eating and drinking

One of the easiest ways to keep your teeth bright and white is to brush after every meal. Remove any stain-producing elements you might have consumed as soon as possible to avoid them sticking to and staining the teeth.

Brushing after every meal will go a long way towards keeping teeth healthy and white. 

Bicarb and hydrogen peroxide

A great natural remedy for whitening teeth is a mixture of bicarbonate of soda (also known as baking soda) and hydrogen peroxide. Mix a small amount of bicarb with hydrogen peroxide to create a thick, smooth paste.

Brush teeth as normal with the paste. The hydrogen peroxide not only acts as a bleaching agent, but also has anti-bacterial qualities to keep germs and plaque at bay. 

Expert tip! Make sure the paste is not gritty as this means there is too much bicarb in the mix, which could scratch enamel off the teeth.  

Coconut oil rinse

Coconut oil is a fantastic natural tooth whitening remedy. Simply swirl a few teaspoons of coconut oil in your mouth, before and after brushing, twice or three times a day.

The oil has natural whitening properties, as well as good antimicrobial properties, which aid in keeping the gums healthy too. 

Strawberry and lemon paste 

This is a good remedy if you like fruit. Simply mash a few strawberries into a paste, add a good squeeze of lemon juice, a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of bicarb. Mix together and brush with this paste twice a day.

The salt and bicarb have abrasive properties that clean away tough plaque and stains, while the acidic lemon and ascorbic strawberries act as anti-bacterial and antimicrobial agents to clean teeth. 

Orange or lemon peels

Orange or lemon peels have fantastic acidic properties that can help keep teeth clean by stripping plaque and other stains from the surface of the teeth.

Rub some rind on the teeth after brushing, then rinse with water. It is important to rinse after rubbing with the peels as the acid in the orange or lemon can strip the enamel if left on the tooth for too long.