How to Get White Teeth: 6 Home Remedies to Boost Your Confidence

There are many natural ways to make your teeth whiter without going to the dentist. These home methods are safe, cheap, and easy to do. Most of these ways use common items you can find in any store.

1. Try Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is an old method from India for making your mouth healthier. According to Healthline, this old practice from India helps clean your mouth and removes bad things from your body. Take one tablespoon of coconut oil and swish it in your mouth for 15-20 minutes. After that, spit it out and brush your teeth as usual.

2. Use Baking Soda

Baking soda is a natural way to clean teeth and remove marks on the surface. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with two teaspoons of water to make a paste. Brush your teeth with this mix a few times each week. Baking soda gently scrubs away yellow marks without hurting your teeth when used the right way.

3. Try Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent that makes teeth whiter well. Mix two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide with one tablespoon of baking soda to make a whitening paste. Brush your teeth with this mix for two minutes, then rinse well with water. Use this method only few times per week to protect the hard coating on your teeth.

4. Brush Your Teeth Properly

Good brushing habits are the most important step for keeping white teeth. As Pleasant Family explains, baking soda is popular in toothpaste ads because it has natural whitening power. Brush your teeth at least twice daily for two minutes using gentle circular movements. Clean all surfaces including the back and sides of teeth.

5. Eat Whitening Foods

Some fruits and vegetables can help clean your teeth naturally while you eat them. Strawberries have malic acid, which can remove marks from your teeth. Pineapple has special enzymes that help break down yellow marks. Crunchy foods like apples and carrots also help clean teeth by scrubbing away plaque and food bits during chewing.

After you know how to get white teeth, now you may want to learn why your teeth are yellow. There are many things that cause stained teeth, and here are some of them:

1. Age and Natural Changes

Getting older naturally makes teeth appear more yellow over time. According to Healthline, teeth become more yellow and dark with age because the outer protective layer wears down. This shows the yellow material underneath. The hard white coating on teeth gets thinner over time. This shows the yellow layer underneath called dentin.

2. Foods and Drinks

Many foods and drinks can stain your teeth and cause yellow color changes. As Colgate states, many different foods cause tooth stains because items like tomato sauce, curry, and berries have strong color substances that stick to teeth. Coffee, tea, red wine, and dark sodas are also common causes.

3. Smoking and Tobacco

Smoking cigarettes or using tobacco products causes brown and yellow stains on teeth that are hard to remove. Nicotine and tar from tobacco stick to tooth surfaces and create permanent color changes over time. These stains are very hard to remove with regular brushing alone. Tobacco use also causes serious health problems beyond just staining teeth.

4. Poor Oral Care

Not brushing and flossing regularly allows plaque to build up on your teeth. This makes them appear yellow or brown. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms when you don't clean your teeth properly. When plaque stays on teeth for long periods, it hardens into tartar. This is difficult to remove and causes color changes.

5. Genetics

Some people naturally have more yellow teeth because of their genes and family history. The thickness and color of tooth coating can run in families. This affects how white or yellow your teeth appear. If your parents have yellow teeth, you might also have this problem. However, good oral care can still help improve their appearance.

6. Medications

Certain medicines can change tooth color and cause permanent staining, especially in children. Antibiotics like tetracycline can cause gray or brown stains when taken during tooth development. Some medicines for high blood pressure and antihistamines can also stain adult teeth. Always ask your doctor about possible side effects of any new medicines you take.

Preventing yellow teeth is easier than trying to whiten them later. Simple changes in your daily habits can help keep your teeth white for many years. These prevention tips work better when you start them early.

1. Watch What You Eat and Drink

Limit foods and drinks that stain teeth to prevent yellow color changes from happening. When you do have coffee, tea, or red wine, try to drink them quickly instead of sipping slowly over long periods. Use a straw when possible to reduce direct contact with your teeth. Rinse your mouth with water after having staining substances.

2. Wait Before Brushing

Do not brush your teeth right after eating acidic foods or drinks to protect tooth coating. According to Pleasant Family, brushing right after having acidic items can damage your teeth because it causes wearing away of the protective coating. Wait at least 30-60 minutes before brushing your teeth. Acid makes tooth coating soft temporarily, and brushing too soon causes damage.

3. Quit Smoking

Stop using all tobacco products including cigarettes, pipes, and chewing tobacco to prevent further tooth staining. Tobacco not only stains teeth but also causes serious health problems throughout your body. Your teeth will start to look better and whiter within weeks of quitting smoking. This is one of the most important steps for oral and overall health.

4. Visit Your Dentist Regularly

See your dentist every six months for professional cleaning and checkups to keep white teeth. Professional cleaning removes stains and tartar that regular brushing cannot remove at home. Your dentist can also spot problems early before they cause permanent staining or color changes. Regular dental visits are essential for keeping your teeth healthy, clean, and white.

5. Use Whitening Toothpaste

Choose toothpaste that has mild whitening ingredients to help remove surface stains from your teeth. These toothpastes help remove surface stains with gentle scrubbing materials that are safe for daily use. Look for products that have been approved by dental groups for safety and how well they work. However, whitening toothpaste works slowly, so be patient and use consistently.

6. Drink Plenty of Water

Water helps wash away food bits and bacteria that can cause stains and yellow color changes on your teeth. Drinking water throughout the day keeps your mouth clean and helps prevent plaque buildup that leads to yellowing. Water also helps produce saliva, which naturally cleans your teeth and neutralizes harmful acids. Drink water after meals for optimal oral health.