Whitening your teeth doesn’t have to take place in a dentist’s office! These DIY teeth whitening tips will help you get whiter, brighter teeth without an expensive trip to the dentist. In fact, getting white teeth that are as pearly clean looking as if you had just stepped out of the dentists’ office is really quite simple. Most of the time, whitening your teeth at home can be performed with a few staple ingredients that you will find in your refrigerator or pantry.

Whitening with Strawberries

For a quick DIY teeth whitening mixture that will have your pearly whites ready for a big finish smile, try whitening your teeth with strawberries and baking soda. Mix together about a quarter cup of baking soda with the juice from 2-3 strawberries. Apply the mixture to your teeth using a toothbrush and allow the mixture to sit on the teeth for a couple of minutes. The acid in the strawberries will break up plaque and remove stains while the baking soda will help to whiten the surface of the teeth.

Whitening with Lemon Juice

Lemon juice mixed with baking soda is another DIY teeth whitening mixture that can really work to remove stains but the acidic lemon juice is definitely a little bit more strenuous on the enamel of the teeth. Again, mix about a quarter cup of baking soda with the juice from a half of a lemon. Scrub the mixture onto the teeth using a toothbrush and then rinse fully. Do not allow the lemon mixture to sit on the teeth as long as you would the strawberries as this can erode or break down the tooth enamel and cause more problems.

Many toothpastes and tooth care products have baking soda and peroxide in them. Using hydrogen peroxide to whiten the teeth is a relative safe DIY teeth whitening method when compared to other at home teeth whitening mixtures. Mix about a tablespoon of baking soda with a quarter teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide and a couple of drops of water. Use the mixture as a toothpaste and allow it to foam and bubble on the teeth for 2-4 minutes before rinsing completely with water. The hydrogen peroxide will whiten the teeth and the baking soda will work to remove plaque and surface stains that may not come off with brushing alone.

Prevention is Key

While at home teeth whitening methods may seem like the best way to whiten your teeth without the high cost of a dentist there are actually better ways to keep your teeth white—prevention is the key to having white teeth all the time. Avoiding drinks that are conducive to causing stains on the teeth such as caramelized sodas, coffee or tea and also avoiding drinks that can be corrosive to the teeth will help you to keep white teeth without having to use mixtures and methods of whitening. Instead of spending excessive amounts of money on the dentist or on at home teeth whitening processes, take the steps to prevent stained teeth by avoiding harsh foods and drinks and brushing after every meal.