If you are finding that you are avoiding smiling because you do not want anyone to see your discolored teeth, it may be time to find a whitening method. There are several different ways you can remove surface stains from your teeth, leaving them brighter in the process. Here are a couple of home remedy methods you can give a try in an attempt to get that smile back:

Knowing What Causes Discoloring

Teeth are composed of four layers of material. The top layer, enamel, softens and wears when you eat or drink certain acidic items. It can also wear from excessive tooth brushing or brushing your toothbrush against your teeth in the same direction every time you perform oral hygiene practices.

The layer underneath, dentin, supports the enamel and covers up the pulp layer, which carries blood to the surrounding areas of your teeth. The dentin layer is yellow in color, so when enamel wears, you are left with teeth that appear to have a yellow-tinged color. Avoiding the wear of enamel is key in keeping your teeth white.

Baking Soda And Lemon Juice

One way to brighten teeth is a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice. This will remove surface staining from the enamel on your teeth, leaving you with brighter looking teeth in the process. Make a mixture of two tablespoons of baking soda and one teaspoon of lemon juice. Mix well and apply to your toothbrush as a paste.

Brush your teeth with this mixture and leave in place for no longer than one minute. Rinse it your mouth thoroughly to remove. The properties in the sodium bicarbonate (the baking soda) can wear enamel if left in place too long, so this mixture should not be used more than once a week to whiten teeth.

Strawberry And Salt Paste

Strawberries contain Vitamin C, which helps break down plaque that can be on the surface of teeth, causing discoloration. The enzyme malic acid is also in strawberries, which is helpful in the removal of surface staining on the teeth. Use a fork to mash up two or three strawberries inside a bowl. Add a pinch of salt to the strawberries. This acts as an exfoliating agent to remove plaque from the teeth.

Place the strawberry and salt mixture on a toothbrush and lightly scrub your teeth. Keep the mixture on your teeth for up to five minutes and rinse. This mixture can be used daily to aid in whitening of the teeth.

To learn more, or if you have other questions, contact a company like Nitro Family Dentistry with any questions or concerns you have.