© Shutterstock

It's safe and effective -

A review by the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) found that toothpaste with baking soda as a primary ingredient proved to be a safe and effective way of whitening teeth.

© Shutterstock 

Coconut oil pulling -

Coconut oil pulling is another natural way of whitening teeth. It’s an old Indian remedy where you put a tablespoon of oil in your mouth and swish it around for about 20 minutes.

© Shutterstock 

Why coconut oil? -

Coconut oil also has a fatty acid profile containing lauric acid and antimicrobial properties.

© Shutterstock 

Swish and spit -

It works with pretty much any oil, but people often go for coconut because it’s one of the tastier options. It works by dissolving plaque and the biofilm of bacteria stuck to your teeth, and when you spit it out, it washes it away. You can then brush your teeth afterwards.

© Shutterstock 

Apple cider vinegar -

Apple cider vinegar in small amounts is known to whiten teeth too. You use it like you would a mouthwash, making a solution with about two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and six ounces of water.

© Shutterstock 

It works by bleaching -

With this, you only have to swish it around your mouth for about 30 seconds. Fun fact: it’s been proven to bleach on cows’ teeth.

© Shutterstock 

Be careful, it's acidic -

It's acidic, so proceed with caution because it can also cause aggravation of the gums if you keep it in your mouth for too long.

© Shutterstock

Oranges, lemons, and banana peels -

The d-limonene and citric acid compounds in fruit like oranges, lemons, and banana peels whiten teeth naturally. Besides eating these kinds of fruits, you can rub them on your teeth.

© Shutterstock 

Rinse thoroughly -

Similar to any other acid, you only want to rub these on your teeth for about two minutes before rinsing your mouth out. Any longer can aggravate the gums and wear down the enamel.

© Shutterstock 

Tea stains and stains from smoking -

One 2010 study found that it was very effective in removing stains resulting from tea drinking and smoking. This study used four different types of peels from the orange family and found tangerine peel extract to achieve the best results.

© Shutterstock 

Activated charcoal -

Activated charcoal is widely acknowledged to effectively remove pigments and stains from your teeth because it’s absorbent.

© Shutterstock 

It removes toxins and bacteria -

It removes toxins and bacteria from the mouth. There are plenty of different kinds of products that have charcoal in them, like toothpaste and capsules.

© Shutterstock 

Brush slowly and gently -

The way to use these kinds of products is generally to brush with them. However, you have to be more careful and brush slower and more gently because it can be abrasive to the gums.

© Shutterstock 

Effective in four weeks -

Charcoal toothpaste has proven to be effective in whitening teeth within four weeks of use. However, there have been very few studies into its long-term effects, so be careful and be gentle with your gums.

© Shutterstock 

Overdoing it with charcoal will wear down enamel -

If you wear down the enamel, you will get the opposite desired effect of gleaming pearly whites. Instead, the yellow-colored dentin will be exposed, and your teeth will appear more yellow.

© Shutterstock 

Foods with a high water content -

Eating raw fruit and vegetables with high water content may be the simplest way of keeping your teeth white and healthy. The water washes the unwanted material out of your mouth.

© Shutterstock 

Chew after meals -

Also, chewing these kinds of foods at the end of a meal makes the mouth produce saliva that naturally cleans any harmful acids.

© Shutterstock 

Vitamin C for whiter teeth -

One study published in 2019 by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) pointed out that eating foods high in vitamin C reduces the amount of plaque on teeth that causes them to go yellow.

© Shutterstock 

Papain and bromelain extract -

A study published in the Journal of Young Pharmacists found that toothpaste containing papain and bromelain extract significantly whitened teeth.

© Shutterstock 

Bromelain is found naturally in pineapple -

Bromelain is found in the fruit, skin, and sweet juice of pineapple.

© Shutterstock 

Papain is found naturally in papaya -

Papain is a proteolytic enzyme extracted from the raw fruit of papaya.

© Shutterstock 

Actively avoid staining your teeth even more -

As well as actively trying to whiten your teeth, you should avoid activities that will actively stain your teeth. Eating sugar, smoking, and drinking coffee, wine, and tea all stain your teeth.

© Shutterstock 

Stained teeth are natural though -

Keep in mind that the teeth that you see in the mouths of famous figures are not natural. Humans are not supposed to have teeth as white as paper when they’re 60 years old, for example.

© Shutterstock 

Good oral health is what matters most -

The most important thing is that your mouth is healthy. So brush and floss, and pay a visit to your dentist now and again. It may be a good idea to consult them about how you’re planning on whitening your teeth. They may be able to offer some advice. Maybe, unknown to you, your enamel is already compromised and using charcoal toothpaste, for instance, would do more harm than good.

Sources: (J Clin Dent) (IJERPH) (JPCS) (J Young Pharm)

See also: Everything you ever wanted to know about fat loss supplements

© Shutterstock