Millions of people around the world suffer from teeth discoloration. This happens naturally, but various factors like certain foods, lifestyle habits, and poor oral hygiene may speed up discoloration. Thankfully, there are various methods that can help one get rid of stains and improve their teeth color significantly at home. This also improves overall oral health. So, let’s take a look at some at-home procedures that help improve teeth color.

1. Toothpaste
Toothpaste is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to whiten one’s teeth. They do not bleach the teeth but instead create an illusion that makes one’s teeth look whiter. It is very mild but less effective than other methods and usually lightens one’s teeth by only one shade than their original color. They cost as low as $2 per tube.

2. Whitening strips
Whitening strips are quite an effective option to try out at home. Moreover, the process is simple. All one needs to do is place the strip on their teeth and leave it on for roughly 30 minutes. Repeating this procedure for at least two weeks can help one get amazing results. A box of teeth whitening strips starts at around $20.

3. Foods
Including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables helps get rid of plaque in the teeth. Moreover, some fruits like strawberries and pineapples have been linked to the whitening of teeth. Creating a banking soda and strawberry mixture to use on the teeth may show decent results. One must also avoid foods that may stain their teeth. These foods include carbonated beverages, curry, red wine, acidic foods, and soy sauce.

4. Hydrogen peroxide gel
A chemical called hydrogen peroxide is popular for its ability to kill bacteria and whiten teeth. Brushing one’s teeth with a mixture containing baking soda and only 1% of hydrogen peroxide may whiten teeth. Moreover, one can also buy toothpaste containing hydrogen peroxide. However, using too much of the chemical may lead to sensitivity and irritation in the gums.

5. DIY kits by dentists
Several dentists curate DIY kits that are a cheap and effective alternative to pricey treatments. Most of these kits are created using a mild peroxide gel which is supposed to be applied to the teeth. Depending on the peroxide content, it needs to stay on the teeth for a few hours or even overnight. One can either get customized trays or generic ones. These trays cost anywhere between $100 – $400.

6. Whitening rinses
Rinsing one’s mouth with a good quality whitening rinse can have a similar effect to using toothpaste. It can help bring down one’s tooth color by one or two shades. Moreover, it is very affordable and easy to use. However, they may take longer to affect as rinses come into contact with the teeth for only a few seconds.

7. Maintaining oral hygiene
One must not underestimate the importance of simplistic brushing and flossing. Brushing helps rub off stains on the teeth as well as destroy the bacteria in the mouth. Using a teeth whitening toothpaste can work wonders but may take a couple of weeks to affect the teeth. Plaque leads to discoloration of the teeth. Flossing gets rid of plaque in the mouth, preventing discoloration.