If you would like to improve the look of your teeth, there are multiple things that you can do. A few cosmetic dental improvements can be performed at home, such as teeth whitening. Here are a few ways to whiten your teeth at home. 

Natural Whitening Remedies 

Sometimes, teeth can be whitened using natural substances that you may have around the house.  Here are a few of them:

Baking Soda and Peroxide 

Baking soda and peroxide can be mixed together to whiten the teeth. To form the mixture, simply mix baking soda powder with enough three-percent peroxide solution to form a runny paste. Once mixed, apply the paste to the bristles of your toothbrush brush as you would with a favorite toothpaste.  When you are done, you can brush with your conventional toothpaste to remove the unpleasant taste from your mouth. However, the baking soda and peroxide will already have done a good job of cleaning your teeth.

Baking soda is alkaline, so it can help neutralize the acid in the mouth that may cause tooth decay, which can discolor your teeth. In addition, the textured consistency of baking soda can help polish away dental discoloration.

Hydrogen peroxide is a disinfectant. It can kill bacteria in the mouth. In addition, it has mild bleaching properties to help restore the whiteness of your teeth.

Olive Oil

Olive oil can be used in a process called oil pulling to whiten the teeth. Place about a spoonful of the oil in your mouth and move it about as you would a mouthwash. The oil can help dissolve oil-based stains and release them from your teeth. In addition, as the oil moves about the mouth, it traps oral bacteria, which are removed when the oil is released in to a trash receptacle.

Oil pulling should be performed for about 20 minutes to maximize benefits. The longer that the oil is left in the mouth, the more bacteria it can remove. People who oil pull may experience whiter teeth, fresher breath and better overall dental health.

Over-the-counter Whitening Kits

Over-the-counter whitening kits are also available to brighten the color of your teeth. These kits usually contain a peroxide-based product that bleaches away dental staining. The gel or solution may be contained on a whitening strip that can be applied to the teeth or on a foam tray that may be included in the kit for the patient to hold in his or her mouth like a mouth guard.

Whitening kits should only be used as prescribed on the packaging. Overuse or abuse of these products may result in increase dental sensitivity.

If you are interested in learning more ways to whiten your teeth, visit a cosmetic dentist in your area.