How to Whiten Teeth Naturally at Home

Nothing brightens our day more than a patient with a sparkling smile and healthy white teeth—but hey, we’re dentists, so maybe we’re a little biased! Still, let’s be real—who doesn’t want a smile that dazzles? While a perfect dream smile requires professional teeth whitening, it doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from some at-home whitening techniques. If you’re looking to boost your grin from home, we have some easy tips and DIY tricks to help whiten your teeth without the pro treatment. Ready to level up your smile game? Let’s dive into some at-home teeth-whitening magic!

Why Are My Teeth Yellow?

If you’re wondering how to get white teeth, we’re guessing you’re not happy with the current color of your should-be pearly whites. Yellow teeth are a common cosmetic problem and one that develops for many reasons, including:

• Plaque build-up due to poor oral hygiene
• Drinking coffee, tea, wine, sodas, and sports drinks can all stain your teeth
• Smoking stains teeth yellow or brown
• Some medications lead to tooth discoloration
• Genetics. Yellow teeth might be your parent’s fault!
• Tooth grinding weakens dental enamel and can cause teeth to yellow
• Gum disease
• Vitamin C deficiency

Are Teeth Naturally Yellow?

Tooth enamel is naturally white, but the second layer of a tooth called the dentin, is slightly yellow. Some people have translucent enamel, while others have naturally thin enamel. In both these cases, your teeth might look yellow due to the dentin that can be partially seen through the dentin.

Even if you don't start with thin enamel, your teeth naturally take on more of a yellowish color with age. Over the years, constant use wears down the enamel, making the dentin more noticeable. This is perfectly normal, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get rid of yellow teeth!

How To Whiten Teeth At Home

If your teeth are stained yellow, you can whiten them with baking soda, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and coconut oil. Here’s how to whiten teeth naturally.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene

Regular brushing with a white teeth toothpaste is hands down the best way to keep your teeth white at home. Teeth whitening toothpaste uses mild abrasives to gently remove stains from enamel. Brush on your regular schedule, and avoid brushing immediately after consuming acidic food or drinks. Doing so can erode enamel. Your dentist can recommend a good teeth whitening toothpaste, and don’t forget to floss!

Eat Healthy

While no substitute for proper oral hygiene, a diet high in crunchy fruit and vegetables helps whiten teeth by rubbing plaque off your teeth as you chew. You get to enjoy all the other health benefits of a nutritious diet at the same time.

Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide Scrubs

You can make an at-home white teeth toothpaste by mixing one tablespoon of baking soda with two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. Baking soda can effectively remove plaque build-up and stains and clean your teeth, but it can also damage enamel if you brush your teeth often or too rigorously. Don’t use the whitening mixture more than two times a week. Doing so can result in tooth sensitivity and increase the chances of cavities.

Oil Pulling

Does coconut oil whiten teeth? It might if you use oil pulling, an oral health technique from India. In all honesty, there’s no hard scientific evidence this works, but people who practice oil pulling report good results. You swish a few drops of coconut, sunflower, or sesame oil around your mouth and spit it out before brushing your teeth. In theory, oil pulling removes bacteria that can cause plaque.

Experience the best teeth whitening treatment with Rodeo Dental

So, what’s the best way to whiten teeth? Many home remedies either lack evidence for their effectiveness, like coconut oil pulling, or can damage enamel when misused, like baking soda and hydrogen peroxide pastes. Those that do work take time, which isn’t an option if you need white teeth for next week’s prom. For fast, long-term results, you need the help of a professional dentist.

At Rodeo Dental, we offer exceptional professional teeth whitening for adults and children. From the moment you step into our colorful waiting room, we make sure you have the best possible dentistry experience and leave with the healthiest, whitest teeth. Contact us at 888-453-4129 and schedule an appointment for a professional teeth whitening session. We promise instant results that will make you fall back in love with your pearly whites.