If you want to get your teeth white, but costly trips to the dentist and at home whitening kits are out of your price range, there are some natural teeth whitening methods that you can use. Luckily, many times you can just use objects and foods that are sitting around your home that come at little to no cost to you to improve your smile and this can drastically lower your teeth whitening prices. However, there are a lot of old wives’ tales and superstitions surrounding many of these methods. Some are okay and some are downright dangerous to your dental health. Make sure you do your research online and ask your dentist before using any methods.

Home remedies for yellow teeth work well with stains that aren’t very deep. They’re weaker than take home teeth whitening kits, so more applications are required to achieve your desired results. However, still be careful. Some methods used in past times actually remove the enamel on your teeth that is yellow, making them appear whiter, but actually it makes them weaker in the long run.

Baking soda is a cleaning and deodorizer that has become a staple in some toothpastes (and even deodorants) in recent years. You can buy toothpaste with baking soda in it or make the solution yourself. Simply mix a small amount of normal toothpaste or water with the baking soda to create a paste that you brush on your teeth. This method is not going to bleach hard to remove stains off your teeth but it will get rid of the easier stains and make your teeth sparkle more.

The downside to this method is the baking soda is very abrasive. If you use it every day it has the potential to damage the enamel of your teeth. Because of this, and the fact you’re most likely using toothpaste anyways, if you want to brush your teeth with baking soda the easiest and safest way to do it is most likely by buying toothpaste or teeth whitening kits with baking soda already mixed in.

Using Wood Ash to Whiten Teeth

In times past, long before toothpaste was invented, people would use the ash from campfires and fireplaces to clean their teeth.  The best substance to use for this is hardwood ashes, which contains potassium hydroxide.  Potassium hydroxide is a powerful bleaching agent, and this is what cleans your teeth.  However, frequent use of this can also damage the enamel on your teeth.  The lack of fireplaces in houses nowadays also makes it a burden to find a place to burn hardwood as well.  This is probably best used as something to impress your friends around a campfire with your knowledge of the outdoors.

Lemon Juice and Orange Peels

The citric acid in lemon juice and orange peels has natural bleaching properties and used to be one of the most used ways to whiten your teeth at home.  People use to rub the peel against their teeth and hold it there for several minutes or brush their teeth with the juice.

Both of these are horrible for your teeth however and are highly advised against by dentists.  The citric acid in both of these fruits eats away at your enamel and speeds up tooth decay.  It doesn’t actually bleach your teeth, it removes the enamel that was once yellow.  This makes your tooth weaker overall.

Another way of whitening your teeth at home is by using strawberries.  Strawberries have been used as a home remedy for whitening teeth for years. The fruit is rubbed over your teeth or made into a paste that is then used to brush your teeth. Strawberries contain malic acid, which helps to brighten your teeth.
Using strawberries isn’t as dangerous as using lemons or oranges, but you should still make sure to brush your teeth with regular toothpaste right afterwards none the less. Strawberries contain lots of sugar, which is responsible for tooth decay, and if the malic acid from the strawberries is left on your teeth, it will also eat away at your enamel.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Finally, apple cider vinegar is another natural teeth whitener. It is mixed with some baking soda to form a paste which is then used to brush your teeth with. You can also make a more liquid mixture to use as a gargle. Once again, this can also be dangerous to your enamel if you use it improperly.