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Your smile is often the first thing that others notice about you.

While a set of sparkling white teeth can make anyone appear more attractive and healthier, discolored teeth can seriously hamper a person’s self-confidence. People with stained or yellow teeth may even feel too conscious or embarrassed to smile in public.

Teeth tend to lose their color and shine as a person grows older. In addition to this, there are several other factors that can cause yellow or stained teeth.

What Causes Yellow Teeth?

Yellow teeth can be a result of:

• Thinning tooth enamel due to aging
• Hereditary factors
• Dry mouth
• Breathing through the mouth (due to blocked nasal passages)
• Excessive fluoride intake
• Poor dental hygiene
• Excessive consumption of beverages like wine, tea, soda, and coffee
• Certain food items
• Certain diseases
• Tobacco and cigarettes^[1]
• Trauma or accidents that impact the teeth

Discoloration of the teeth may also occur due to additional factors such as:

• High doses of antibiotics
• Climatic conditions
• Infection
• Improper metabolism

Natural Treatment Options for Yellow Teeth

Thankfully, there are several other effective and safe methods to get rid of stained and discolored teeth. These easy-to-follow home remedies can help restore your “million-dollar smile.”

Here are some ways to whiten your teeth naturally.

1. Brush Your Teeth with Baking Soda

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, boasts natural whitening properties and is a popular ingredient in commercial toothpaste.

Being mildly abrasive in nature, it helps scrub away surface stains and plaque accumulated on the teeth.

Plaque buildup can contribute to several oral health issues such as tooth decay and gum disease.

A review published in the Journal of Clinical Dentistry found that toothpaste containing baking soda removed plaque from teeth more effectively than toothpaste without baking soda^[3]

Baking soda also facilitates plaque removal by neutralizing acids produced by plaque-causing bacteria.

• Mix ¼ teaspoon of baking soda with a little toothpaste. Brush your teeth with this gritty mixture, and then rinse with warm water. Use this remedy once or twice a week.
• Alternatively, mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 2 teaspoons of water. Brush your teeth with the paste. Do this a few times a week.

Note: Excess use of baking soda can strip your teeth of its natural protective enamel. Do not use it for more than a few weeks.

2. Mouthwash with Hydrogen Peroxide Solution

When it comes to whitening your teeth the natural way, the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide cannot be ignored.

Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent. It also helps in eliminating the bacteria in your mouth, thus preventing bad breath.

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Dentistry found that brushing with commercial toothpaste containing baking soda and peroxide twice a day led to 62% whiter teeth in 6 weeks.^[4]

Another study published in the Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology highlights the efficacy of a hydrogen peroxide mouthwash in removing stains and plaque.^[5]

• Mix 1 teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon of water. Use this solution as a mouthwash twice daily.
• Alternatively, combine 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Gently brush your teeth with this mixture a few times a week for 2 or 3 weeks.

Note: Overuse of hydrogen peroxide may erode your tooth enamel. Do not use these remedies more often than recommended.

3. Try Oil Pulling with Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is an excellent ingredient for the maintenance of oral health. Using it for oil pulling will help whiten and brighten your teeth.

Coconut oil is high in lauric acid, which is known for its ability to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria present in the mouth. These bacteria can lead to plaque formation and other oral issues that may cause a yellow tinge on your teeth.

A study published in the Nigerian Medical Journal reports that oil pulling using coconut oil could be an effective adjuvant procedure in decreasing plaque formation and plaque-induced gingivitis.

A 2016 study published in the Journal of Contemporary Dental Hygiene found that edible oil pulling therapy is natural and safe and has no side effects, and it can be considered as a preventive home care practice to maintain oral hygiene.

1. Put 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin coconut oil in your mouth.
2. Swish it around in your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes. Do not gargle.
3. Spit out the milky solution.
4. Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water.
5. Brush your teeth.
6. Do this once daily in the morning before you eat.

4. Reap the Benefits of Holy Basil

The leaves of holy basil have whitening properties and can also help in protecting your teeth from problems such as periodontitis (pyorrhea), an advanced form of periodontal disease.

A 2014 study published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry found that holy basil mouthwash has an antiplaque effect and is effective against plaque-forming bacterial strains. It can potentially be used as an antiplaque mouthwash with prophylactic benefits.

• Place a few holy basil leaves in the sun for a few hours. Grind the dried leaves into a powder. Mix the powder with your regular toothpaste and use this mixture to brush your teeth.
• Another option is to make a paste of holy basil leaves and mustard oil and use it to clean your teeth.

5. Orange Peel can be Beneficial

This is one of the most popular natural remedies to whiten yellow teeth. The acidic property of orange peel makes it a powerful bleaching agent. This helps reduce the yellow tinge on your teeth.

Moreover, orange peel contains limonene, which makes it highly effective in removing teeth staining, especially stains caused by smoking.

A study that can be found in the American Journal of Dentistry states that toothpaste containing d-limonene was significantly effective in reducing smoking stains on teeth and d-limonene alone inhibited the development of further smoking stains.^[9]

1. Rub a long strip of orange peel over your teeth for 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Rinse your mouth thoroughly with lukewarm water.
3. Repeat this remedy twice daily, until you are satisfied with the results.

6. Partake Apples

Eating a crunchy apple can help make your teeth whiter by scrubbing them like a toothbrush.

According to a study that can be found in the Insisiva Dental Journal (2012), apple juice possesses the ability to whiten the surface of the tooth enamel that changed color due to immersion in coffee solution so that it may return to its original color prior to discoloration.

1. Try to eat at least one or two apples daily to get rid of the yellow stains on your teeth.
2. Chew thoroughly so that the acidic nature of the apple and its fiber-rich rough flesh get ample time to work on your teeth.

You can also consume other crunchy food items including raw carrots, cucumbers, and broccoli.

7. Use Indian Lilac Twigs as a Toothbrush

Indian lilac, also known as neem, can also be used to get whiter and brighter teeth.

Regular use of neem also helps get rid of bad breath and prevents dental cavities, plaque, gingivitis, and other oral health problems, owing to its astringent and antiseptic properties.

A 2017 study published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry found that neem contains isoprenoids such as nimbin, nimbinin, and nimbidin, which have antibacterial effects against oral streptococci and prevent them from adhering to the tooth surface.

Moreover, it showed a reduction in plaque and gingivitis, comparable to standard fluoridated dentifrice.^[11]

There are a few different ways you can use neem for whiter teeth:

• Use neem twigs as a toothbrush to brush your teeth daily. Simply chew on the broken end of the twig until it becomes soft enough to brush your teeth with it.
• Extract the juice of neem leaves and rub it on your teeth once daily. Leave it on for a few minutes, and then use a soft toothbrush to brush your teeth. Rinse it off with warm water.
• Mix a few drops of neem oil in your regular toothpaste and then brush your teeth.

8. Trust the Potential of Strawberries

Strawberries are rich in vitamin C and can help make your teeth whiter.

A 2013 study published in the Journal of Dentistry found that strawberry juice had a positive effect on the re-whitening process of coffee-stained teeth.

• Grind a few strawberries to make a paste. Rub the paste on your teeth gently. Use this remedy twice daily for a few weeks to get rid of the yellow tinge on your teeth.
• Alternatively, you can mix the pulp of one strawberry with 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and spread the mixture onto your teeth. Let it sit for a few minutes. Rinse your mouth and brush your teeth with toothpaste to get rid of the residue.

Additional Remedies

The following two remedies optimize the antimicrobial properties of two natural ingredients that are not usually associated with sparkly white teeth.

However, if science is to be believed, both turmeric and apple cider vinegar can prove especially beneficial for addressing oral plaque buildup, which is essentially the underlying cause of yellow teeth.

Thus, trust these remedies to work as adjunctive treatments for banishing stubborn teeth stains.

Turmeric Paste

Believe it or not, this bright yellow spice can also be effective in whitening your teeth!

When used for brushing the teeth, turmeric powder acts as a gentle abrasive and helps remove surface stains, thus revealing whiter teeth.

Turmeric comes with anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antibiotic properties, mainly due to the presence of a component called curcumin.

This spice can also be useful in treating other dental problems such as toothache and gingivitis.

A 2011 study published in the Food Chemistry found that components of turmeric had inhibitory effects on the virulence properties of S. mutans biofilms (which are responsible for tooth decay and plaque formation) and suggested that it can be useful for controlling dental biofilms and subsequent dental caries formation.^[14]

A 2013 study published in the Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine highlights the role of turmeric in the treatment of periodontal diseases and oral cancers.^[15]

• Mix 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in 1 teaspoon of water. Use this paste to brush your teeth for 2 to 3 minutes. Repeatedly rinse with water and spit it out until the liquid comes out clear. Do this once daily.
• Alternatively, put 4 tablespoons of dried, organic turmeric root powder in a bowl. Add in 2 teaspoons of baking soda and 3 tablespoons of organic virgin coconut oil. Mix the ingredients thoroughly with a spoon or fork. Use this paste to brush your teeth once or twice daily.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar works as a natural disinfectant and cleaning agent. It can also be used to whiten your teeth naturally.

Acetic acid, the main active ingredient in apple cider vinegar, helps kill bacteria and reduce the risk of plaque or other oral problems.

In a 2014 animal study published in the Journal of Sichuan University, researchers found that apple cider vinegar has a bleaching effect on teeth. However, it may soften the teeth.^[16]

1. Dilute raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar in an equal amount of water.
2. Swish the solution in your mouth for 1 minute.
3. Rinse your mouth with plain water.
4. Do this a few times a week only.

Note: Avoid overuse of apple cider vinegar, as it can erode the enamel on your teeth.