The Celebrity Smile on a Budget: How to Achieve White Teeth

If there was one (or thirty two) facial component(s) people tend to forget in their beauty regimes, it’s the teeth! A pearly white smile is not only attractive, it also gives you a better first impression.

Even if you’re a diligent brusher, it’s so easy for teeth to discolour and become yellow. Coffee, gravy, and many other drinks and foods stain our teeth on a daily basis. So how can you keep your fangs white without spending on professional teeth whitening?

We know what you’re thinking, “Thanks, Captain Obvious.”

You’re welcome. Proper and thorough brushing twice a day limits the build-up of plaque, which prevents teeth discolouration and other oral problems. Also, here’s the one not many people know – there’s a wrong way to brush your teeth, which is the horizontal back-and-forth sweeping motion. Instead, tilt your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle so that your bristles touch your gumline (where your teeth and gums meet). Then, brush in circular motions up and down your teeth.

Well-known for its whitening properties, the strawberry apparently works wonders for celebrities. All you need to do is rub a strawberry against your teeth to get the whitening process started. Here’s another “straw” that makes a difference: over time, carbonated drinks and coffee stain your teeth, so use a straw instead of sipping it directly from the cup. This minimises contact between the coffee and your teeth.

This multi-wonder oil has many health benefits, and here’s another one for the list! Coconut oil helps whiten your teeth. Certain people swear by oil-pulling, which is to swish the oil in your mouth for 5 – 10 minutes in place of a mouthwash. Not only will it help whiten teeth, it also has Vitamin E, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties that improves your oral health. Before you jump on this bandwagon, do a small allergy test by applying a bit of oil onto your elbow crease and leave it on for a while to see if you get a reaction.

Lemon is known for its bleaching properties, which helps with teeth whitening. Rub the peel against your teeth and rinse off right after. A word of caution about lemon as its acidity can wear your enamel out. If you want to give this method a try, be sure to space out the times you do it and don’t leave it on for too long.

All you need is 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide and 1 tablespoon of baking soda, then, combine them into paste. Brush the paste onto your teeth with a toothbrush. These natural ingredients work together as a whitener.