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Millions of dollars are spent each year in the efforts to whiten, brighten and beatify teeth. A whiter smile is a healthier, youthful smile that thousands seek to achieve daily. Products fly of the supermarket shelves, and dentists are charging thousands for this most desired look. With affordability as an issue I struggle to care for my teeth professionally and went in search of a whitening system that I could use at home that didn't cost me the extra money that I just don't have.

What I found in my search was a lot of mention of lemon juice, which I imagine does work because of its capability to strip your teeth of calcium, which would then leave my teeth full of cavities and damage my enamel long term. I wouldn't recommend using this method to anybody and after consulting with my dentist I realized that neither would he. His suggestion was simply raw vegetables: carrots, broccoli, celery, strawberries, apples and cucumbers. Eat them on a daily basis and they will help whiten your teeth and maintain that smile.
Strawberries are a natural teeth whitener. Some people swear by a strawberry paste made by mashing strawberries in a bowl and then using this to brush your teeth. Strawberries contain sugar and acid so it would be really smart to brush your teeth normally and floss immediately after using this method.
Something I was surprised to find out was that brushing with wood ash will help whiten your teeth. You'll want the ash to be from hard wood as it contains potassium hydroxide. This process is done by gathering ashes from a hard wood fire, dipping a wet toothbrush into them and brushing your teeth with the ashes. Immediately brush and floss normally afterwards to remove the bad taste and ash and reveal your whiter smile. It is not a good idea to use this method often as the potassium hydroxide can cause significant damage to your teeth over time.
Gly-Oxide is an antiseptic oral cleanser that can be used to improve everyday oral hygiene resulting in a whiter healthier mouth. Gly-oxide penetrates between teeth where brushing can miss and flushes out partials of food left behind. It is available off the shelf or ask your dentist.
The best method I have found, one that I use if I am heading out for a night on the town and feel the need to brighten up, is a paste made from baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. This can damage your enamel with repeated, prolonged use so it is not a good idea to use this method more than once a month. There is not real set measurements for the ingredients. Just add a tablespoon or so of baking powder in a cup with a capful of hydrogen peroxide Mix well and add more of whichever one you need too to make a toothpaste like consistency. Brush with the paste, careful not to brush to hard and to avoid the gums as much as possible. Once finished brush your teeth well with your everyday toothpaste. It is a good idea to use this method the night before you go out as it can leave your gums white for a few hours.
A word to the wise, proceed with caution when using any method that is not approved or recommended by a dentist.

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