By Rita Chioma

Eighteen  percent of young men and women usually conceal their teeth in photos and that is simply because they don’t want to show off yellow or discolored teeth.

The sad truth is some people, no matter how many times they brush their teeth, have stained teeth from drinking coffee, tea, and or smoking. Your teeth are one of the first things people notice. They are a sign of health as well as confidence.

 Who doesn’t want to have a beautiful smile with white sparkling teeth?

Here are  6 natural ways to whiten your teeth

1. Brush After Drinking or Eating

The best way, but not always the easiest is to simply brush your teeth after eating or drinking something. This takes a lot of persistence and can even be kind of difficult depending on where you are at the time. Most food do not stain teeth, but if you are a coffee drinker or if you smoke, you can pretty much count on having discolored teeth from staining. If this is the case then having your teeth cleaned every three months may be in order, besides trying some of the natural remedies listed here.

2. Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

This works great as a natural teeth whitener. Many people confirm to the fact that it does make their teeth look whiter. Mix a small amount of hydrogen peroxide with a small amount of baking soda to make a paste. Brush your teeth as usual, making sure you brush those back teeth too. Hydrogen peroxide is an anti-bacterial agent and works great as a total mouth and gum cleaner and keeps the mouth free of germs.

3. Coconut Oil

 Simply put a spoonful of coconut oil in your mouth and swish it between your teeth for 5 to 20 minutes.  Or add a few drops to your toothbrush and simple brush it on, or add the coconut oil to a corner of a clean wash cloth and rub it on.  Also, coconut oil has antimicrobial properties so it’s great for your gums as well.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

It makes sense that apple cider vinegar would eventually work as a mouth gum cleaner and remove stubborn stains on the teeth, especially from coffee and nicotine. It has been proven that it does work as a natural teeth whitener but you have to be consistent and it takes a least a month of continuous usage to see results.

5. Lemon or Orange Peels

There have been reports that lemon and or orange peels will also do the trick of whitening your teeth. If you use them always rinse afterwards to be on the safe side. Use half water and half hydrogen peroxide, swish around in your mouth and leave in for at least a full minute.

6. Strawberries

Simply mash up about four or five strawberries and rub the yummy mixture all over your teeth, leave for a while, then rinse well afterwards.