Your smile is often the very first impression you give the world around you. A less than white smile due to wine or coffee stains, or smoking is often a deep source of embarrassment. Luckily, there are a few options when it comes to restoring a bright, white smile. A dentist may perform a tooth whitening procedure, however, this can cost hundreds of dollars. You can also whiten your teeth at home using white strips or several store-bought products (i.e., teeth whitening kits), but these can be rather hard on your teeth, possibly damaging tooth enamel.

Aside from chemical products, the following natural methods can help whiten teeth gently:

1. Oil pulling
Swishing oil around the mouth is most commonly used to remove bacteria from the surface of the teeth and promote better oral health. Those who regularly practice oil pulling often notice that their teeth tend to become whiter over time. A variety of oils can be used to practice this method and it is a very simple process which takes about 20 minutes. Simply place a tablespoon of oil such as coconut, sesame or olive and start swishing it between your teeth. Push it between your teeth and keep it moving around for about 20 minutes. Spit out the now cloudy oil and never swallow it. This helps fight gingivitis and plaque and reduce bacteria

2. Brush with baking soda
Commonly found in many toothpastes, baking soda has natural whitening properties. Its abrasive nature literally scrubs away surface stains on teeth leading to a cleaner whiter appearance. Baking soda is also alkaline so helps to create an unwelcome environment for dental bacteria. This method is simple, all you need is 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2 teaspoons of water which you mix together as a paste. Use this paste to brush your teeth several times a week along with normal daily cleaning procedures. This is not a nice tasting option and you will want to rinse your mouth well afterwards

3. Hydrogen peroxide
It will bleach your hair and also your teeth so when used carefully hydrogen peroxide is a good tooth whitener. This is something you obviously do not want to swallow because it can be very damaging but a light concentration has been shown to whiten teeth. A 1.5-3% solution is the safest to use and it should be used as a mouthwash prior to brushing your teeth. It not only whitens the teeth it also kills off bacteria in the mouth. If gum irritation and tooth sensitivity develop try a weaker concentration or discontinue the practice

4. Eat whitening foods 
It is thought that the malic acid found in fruits, such as strawberries, can actually help remove discoloration from teeth. Also bromelain, found in pineapples, is thought to have the same effect. Aside from eating these foods strawberries can be mixed with baking soda to form a paste which can be used for brushing. This should only be used a few times a week as excessive use may weaken tooth enamel

5. Avoid staining foods and drinks
The simplest way to maintain white teeth is to avoid the causes of tooth staining. It is important to avoid drinks that stain like wine or coffee. Some dark berries can stain the teeth as can eating too much sugar. Excess sugar in the diet can cause erosion of the teeth exposing the yellow dentin layer beneath the enamel