It’s no secret that a great smile starts with great teeth, so this article will take the time needed to teach you:

If you are looking for a quick method to try that will brighten your smile:

If you want to gain a basic understanding of the tooth whitening concept:

If you want to impress your friends with the know-it-all mentality:

If you are an aspiring dental assistant and you want to prove your schooling was worth it:

It goes without saying that putting things in our mouths will have direct contact with our teeth. Certain foods and drinks will cause discoloration with repeated exposure. These include:

Coffee/Tea/Wine: These drinks contain tannins, which attach to tooth enamel and build up over time. With enough constant exposure, the tannins can cause discoloration.

Apples: Apples can cause the teeth to yellow. So can other fruits that are highly acidic. Prolonged exposure to acidic foods, like apples, can wear away the enamel, leaving teeth yellowish in color.

Other Foods: The rule of thumb is that if the food can stain your fingers or clothes, it can stain your teeth. When eating such foods, you should take the proper steps for aftercare to help prevent stains forming. These foods include (but are not limited to):

Common sense will tell you that if you don’t keep things clean, they will get dirty. Your teeth are no different. Proper care is important to mouth, gum and tooth health. It is also important for keeping your smile white.

Brushing and Flossing: Lack of brushing your teeth on a regular basis allows food, drink and tobacco particles to remain on the enamel causing damage. If you don’t floss, the particles stuck between your teeth will do their damage from there.

Oral Rinses: Some oral rinses and mouthwash contain cetylpyridinium chloride, or chlorhexidine can actually cause discoloration of the teeth. So even a good attempt at oral care can backfire.

When we try to repair our teeth, fix issues such as crooked teeth, cavities, or root canals, we need orthodontic materials and devices to help these situations. They can, however, cause our teeth to become discolored.

Fillers: Cavities and root canals leave holes in our teeth. These holes are then filled with materials that prevent further decay. However, some of the materials used, like silver-sulfide, can cause teeth to turn grey or black.

Braces: Orthodontic equipment such as bridges, braces and even partial dentures, can cause the teeth to discolor, When this happens, it is usually a mixture of other factors, such as the adhesives mixed with improper oral care; such as having braces and not brushing thoroughly.

Biology states that as things get older, they break down on a chemical and physical level. Our bodies, teeth included, are no different.

Aging: As we get older the enamel of our teeth begins to thin and wear away. This is just part of getting older. Even with perfect dental care, the enamel will wear down over time. When this happens, the dentin shows through and the teeth appear yellow and discolored.

Diseases: Certain diseases can also cause teeth to discolor. Most of the causes of this aren’t from the diseases themselves but from the treatments. Pregnant mothers can get infections that will deter the formation of enamel in their unborn babies tooth production.

The world we live in isn’t too kind to our teeth. Even when we use environmental variables to make things better, the side effects can show up in our mouths.

Fluoride: Fluoride is added to our toothpaste, to our drinking water and even oral supplements. However, too much fluoride can actually discolor teeth in children and adolescents.

Unfortunately, not every cause of discoloration can be prevented. Genetics, medications, orthodontic equipment and age cannot be prevented. Can it be slowed, though?

To prevent stains from coffee, tea, soda or wine, you can do one of two things: either stop drinking them altogether or use a straw.

While it may be difficult or near impossible not to intake any coffee, tea, sodas or wine, it is easier to use a straw in most cases. When using a straw, you should place the end of the straw further back in the mouth instead of just inside the lips.

If a straw isn’t available, or won’t work very well (like in a mug of hot coffee), you should brush, floss and rinse after you finish your drink. At a very minimum, you should swish clean water in your mouth to help wash away the stain-causing particles.

Home remedies come in many different forms, and depending on the type of staining of discoloration, some may work better than others. Just because your neighbor used one method and achieved great results, doesn’t mean that you will benefit from the same course of action.

Trial and error, as well as ingredient availability and budget,  will go a long way to finding your preferred method.

There are natural ways to whiten your teeth, chemical methods and professional kits you can purchase to use in the convenience of your own home. We will take a look at all of them here. 

Natural whitening methods use ingredients that are found in your supermarket or kitchen cabinets. They don’t use harsh chemicals to bleach your teeth and are generally found to be safer. However, not all natural methods will work on all discoloration or stains.

You may find yourself trying more than one natural method to achieve the results you are after.

Baking soda is a natural remedy that is easy to use. The idea behind it is that the natural abrasive tendencies of the baking soda will scrub the surface of your teeth, removing any deposits, surface stains or bacteria.

Because baking soda is also alkaline, it helps prevent the growth of bacteria in your mouth which can leave you feeling cleaner, longer.

You should use the baking soda paste two or three times per week. How it will effect discoloration of the teeth depends greatly on the type of staining that is occurring. Baking soda will only attempt to remove surface stains.

How to Use: Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda into two or three teaspoons of water. Mix until a paste consistency. Using a toothbrush, apply the paste to your teeth and brush normally.

Cost: About $2 per month.

Coconut oil is used as an oral rinse aid and tooth whitening ingredient in many areas of the world. Because coconut oil is pleasant in taste, it is easier to use for a swish. You can also use olive oil, sesame oil or vegetable oil, though, for the duration and frequency, you may wish to stick to a nice tasting oil.

Coconut oil is a solid. You must warm it up above room temperature to get it to its’ liquid state. The temperature inside your mouth will work just fine.

Coconut oil is thought to whiten teeth by removing bacteria in your mouth which causes plaque. When the plaque cannot form, the teeth are left alone and can appear whiter.

How to use: Take one teaspoon of coconut oil (or other oil) and place in the mouth, daily. Swish thoroughly for 20 minutes. Take extra care to suck the oil between the teeth, not just over them. Work all sides of the mouth, including the roof and under the tongue.

Cost: $5 per month.

Apple cider vinegar has many known health benefits. Daily use of the vinegar is common for many topical and oral conditions.

As a tooth whitener, the idea is that the acidic nature kills bacteria with its antibacterial compounds. The vinegar also bleaches the teeth naturally making them appear whiter.

Caution: Vinegar is known to soften enamel and erodes dentin. When using apple cider vinegar as an oral rinse, you should take caution not to prolong exposure to your teeth.

How to use: Mix a one to one ration of apple cider vinegar and water and swish around the mouth for 10 to 20 seconds. When done, rinse your mouth with clean water to remove all the vinegar from the mouth. Do not use daily, instead only use apple cider vinegar twice a week.

Cost: About $8 per month.

An electric toothbrush will spin, pulse and vibrate which removes stains, plaque and bacteria better than a manual brush. The spinning and pulsing action work against the enamel to loosen, lift and remove surface stains.

You should use a soft bristle brush if you have sensitive gums or are trying also to remove gingivitis. Hard bristles will cause bleeding, swelling and soreness when it isn’t necessary.

How to use: Use the electric toothbrush the same as a manual brush, allowing the brush head to spin and pulse around each tooth, taking one to four minutes total brushing time twice daily.

Cost: $20 to $200 for the electric toothbrush. Additional brush heads may be extra, as needed.

One homeopathic method of teeth whitening uses the peel of a banana or the rind of an orange. Because these fruits have over 60 percent of their total vitamin and mineral make up in the rinds, they arguably make a good whitening strip.

There isn’t a scientific study to support these claims, though there isn’t one to disprove them either. While some may be skeptical, it can’t hurt and you won’t lose anything but a few minutes of time and possibly some surface stains.

How to use: Peel the fruit and save the peel. Cut or tear into smaller, more manageable pieces. Use the inside of the peel to rub the surface of the teeth reaching as far back as you can. Leave the rubbings on the teeth for a few minutes, disposing of the peel in an appropriate manner.

Rinse your mouth and brush with your toothbrush as normal. Apply daily, or as needed.

Cost: Depends on the price of these fruits. If you’re consuming them regularly, then it’s practically free

Activated charcoal (also known as activated carbon) is a highly abrasive material known to remove stains from teeth. The charcoal is extremely absorbent and when applied to teeth, particles on the surface and in the scratches of the enamel, will adhere and lift the stains.

Because the charcoal is so abrasive it is recommended to create a paste with the charcoal and use it as a tooth coating instead of as toothpaste.

How to use: Mix activated charcoal with enough water to mix into a paste-like consistency. Spread the paste over the surface of the teeth and let sit for a few minutes. Rinse your mouth with water, trying to prevent too much rubbing of the teeth.

Note: Activated charcoal is used for many purposes. Fish tank filters, fire starters, oil absorbent materials and other products contain activated charcoal. When purchasing, ensure you buy only apothecary or food grade activated charcoal and do not use other sources as they can contain toxins.

Cost: $5 to $10 for a container.

Chemicals used in your mouth should be done so with care. The chemicals will effectively bleach your teeth, but may also cause unwanted reactions or have painful side effects if done improperly.

The treatments tend to show results faster and may last longer. You should always read all the precautions on any chemicals you use and try to prevent long exposure to the chemicals over time.

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical you probably already have in your bathroom. The chemical is used as a wound debrider and oral mouthwash. It works by creating a chemical reaction with bacteria and debris that causes the hydrogen peroxide to bubble, lifting and removing stains and stain causing agents from the surface of the teeth.

How to use: Mix a one to one ratio of hydrogen peroxide with water. Use the mixture as a mouthwash ensuring the mixture gets between and around all teeth. After spitting the rinse, allow the remainder to bubble and debride the teeth and gums for a few minutes. Brush the teeth as normal. Use hydrogen peroxide mix as a mouthwash every other day.

Cost: About $2 for a bottle of hydrogen peroxide.

When it comes to chemicals for whitening teeth, hydrogen peroxide is the main chemical used and has been since the 1970s. Any other chemicals are either too harsh to be used in the mouth or have no whitening properties.

Carbamide peroxide is a chemical that, when mixed with water, releases hydrogen peroxide. Because carbamide isn’t as active, it is commonly used in whitening gels and pastes that will release hydrogen peroxide when applied to the teeth.

When applied to the teeth for a prolonged period (about 15 minutes) the peroxide penetrates the enamel and begins to bleach the dentin. This prolonged exposure can make teeth appear whiter over time.

How to use: Use as a toothpaste, gel application or in a mouth tray to keep the carbamide peroxide on the teeth for 15 minutes. Rinse and brush as normal.

Cost: Up to $15 for gel containing carbamide peroxide.

Several cosmetic whitening products contain members of the borate family. These include sodium perborate. However, this inclusion on the list is to warn, not to offer as an option. Borates have whitening abilities. However, they have been found to be carcinogenic, toxic and possibly even mutagenic.

If you find a product for teeth whitening that contains perboric acid, sodium perborate or any other borate family chemical, you should avoid them completely.

Home kits are made by companies that include everything you need to whiten your teeth. Some are natural, others are chemical and the benefit to kits is that you don’t need to search for ingredients or equipment.

Before starting a kit remedy, you should read the warnings, cautions and instructions thoroughly. Take all precautions and prevention steps to keep your health and mouth safe.

These kits come with a clean strip with a hydrogen peroxide mixture that you place on your teeth. The strips stay on the teeth long enough to allow the peroxide to penetrate the enamel and begin bleaching the dentin. After a few weeks worth of applications, the teeth appear whiter in color.

How to use: Remove the strips from the backing paper and apply to the teeth, wrapping the teeth in the strip and pressing to allow the strip to form around the teeth. Strips should be used on both top and bottom rows of teeth together. The strips packaging should tell you how long to leave in place, typically about 20 minutes.

Costs: Strips costs vary based on brand, number of strips per package and MSRP. Crest, Colgate, Ulitax and GLO (among other brand names) make whitening strips at costs between $5 and $50.

There are many reasons you can or should see a dentist, orthodontist or dental professional for teeth whitening applications.

If you regularly visit your dentist for check-ups, cleanings and prevention methods, you may be eligible for teeth whitening processes for a lowered or zero cost. In this case, it may be financially beneficial to seek professional help.

Disabilities can also affect the use of home remedies. Proper mixtures, inability to see clearly or other deterrents to home remedy application can force your hand and make a professional option the only choice.

Other reasons include services that only a dental professional can use. Home remedies are becoming more and more common. However, some dental whitening services can only be performed in a professional setting.

You can use fruit peels, brush with charcoal, or even apply a baking soda paste in your own home to create a tooth whitener. If you are looking for a more convenient method, you can even purchase whitening kits that contain strips, gels, or mouth trays and chemicals to brighten your smile from the comfort of your own home.

However, some discoloration of the teeth can only be recouped or prevented through the use of professional whitening treatments. So what treatments can only be done by professionals?