Some say the eyes are the window to the soul. But if you really want to know what someone’s about, check their smile. A welcoming show of pearly whites makes a great first impression, while a tight-lipped smile or whiff of bad breath does the opposite. Read on for tips on how to make sure you’re giving your teeth the care they deserve.

1. 7 Daily Ways to Protect Your Teeth
Some say the eyes are the window to the soul. But if you really want to know what someone’s
about, check their smile. A welcoming show of pearly whites makes a great first impression,
while a tight-lipped smile or whiff of bad breath does the opposite.
Read on for tips on how to make sure you’re giving your teeth the care they deserve.
Brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day, says the American Dental Association (ADA). This
will keep your teeth in top form. Brushing your teeth and tongue with a soft-bristled toothbrush
and fluoride toothpaste cleans food and bacteria from your mouth. Brushing also washes out
particles that eat away at your teeth and cause cavities.
The mouth is 98.6ºF (37ºC). Warm and wet, it’s filled with food particles and bacteria. These lead
to deposits called plaque. When it builds up, it calcifies, or hardens, on your teeth to form tartar,
also called calculus. Not only does tartar irritate your gums, it can lead to gum disease as well as
cause bad breath.
Be sure to brush in the morning to help get rid of the plaque that’s built up overnight.
If you brush more than twice a day, for longer than four minutes total, you could wear down the
enamel layer that protects your teeth.
When tooth enamel isn’t there, it exposes a layer of dentin. Dentin has tiny holes that lead to
nerve endings. When these are triggered, you might feel all sorts of pain. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 20 percent 
of American adults have
experienced pain and sensitivity in their teeth.
It’s also possible to brush too hard. Brush your teeth like you’re polishing an eggshell. If your
toothbrush looks like someone sat on it, you’re applying too much pressure.
Enamel is strong enough to protect teeth from everything that goes on inside your mouth, from
eating and drinking to beginning the digestive process. Children and teens have softer enamel
Take care of your teeth
1. Brush two times a day for two minutes
2. A morning brush fights morning breath
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3. Don’t overbrush
4. Don’t turbocharge
Medically reviewed by
Christine Frank, DDS —
Written by Cara J. Stevens
— Updated on September
17, 2018
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2. than adults, leaving their teeth more prone to cavities and erosion from food and drink.
Want to avoid minimal scraping at your next checkup? Flossing loosens the particles that
brushing misses. It also removes plaque, and in so doing prevents the buildup of tartar. While it’s
easy to brush plaque away, you need a dentist to remove tartar.
You finally have an answer to the age-old question: “Which comes first, flossing or brushing?” It
doesn’t matter, according to the ADA, as long as you do it every day.
“Sip All Day, Get Decay” is a campaign from the Minnesota Dental Association to warn people
of the dangers of soft drinks. It’s not just sugar soda, but diet soda, too, that harms teeth. The
acid in soda attacks teeth. Once acid eats away at enamel, it goes on to create cavities, leaves
stains on the tooth surface, and erodes the inside structure of the tooth. To avoid drinking-
related tooth decay, limit soft drinks and take good care of your teeth.
Last medically reviewed on November 13, 2017
5. Make sure you floss every day
6. It doesn’t matter when you do it
7. Stay away from soda
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How to Get Rid of Yellow Teeth
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Changes in the color of your teeth may be subtle and happen gradually. Some yellow color may
be inevitable.
Teeth can look more yellow or darken especially as you age. As the outer enamel wears away,
the yellowy dentin underneath becomes more visible. Dentin is the second layer of calcified
tissue beneath the outside enamel layer.
If you’re looking to whiten your teeth, you do have some alternatives to conventional methods.
Remedies Causes Bottom line
Overview
Medically reviewed by Jennifer Archibald,
DDS — Written by Erica Cirino — Updated
on December 2, 2019
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3. Please be careful with at-home whitening because you may damage your teeth if products are
used incorrectly or for too much time. You may wear away too much of your enamel, which
could put you at risk for sensitivity and cavities.
Here are seven natural options for getting rid of yellow teeth.
It may be best to choose a few treatments and rotate them throughout the week. Some of the
suggestions below do not have research to support them, but have been proven to be effective
by anecdotal reports.
Experiment to find a solution that works for you.
1. Brushing your teeth
Your first plan of action should be to brush your teeth more often and in the correct manner. It’s
especially important that you brush after consuming foods and drinks that can lead to yellow
teeth.
However, be careful with brushing immediately after consuming acidic foods and drinks.
Brushing right away can make the acids brush away more enamel and lead to erosion.
Brush your teeth at least twice a day for 2 minutes at a time. Make sure you get into all of the
cracks and crevices. Brush your teeth gently in a circular motion to ensure you’re protecting
your gums. Brush the inside, outside, and chewing surfaces of your teeth.
Brushing with a whitening toothpaste has also been scientifically shown to whiten your smile,
according to a 2018 study. These whitening toothpastes contain mild abrasives that scrub the
teeth to remove surface stain, but are gentle enough to be safe.
Using an electric toothbrush may also be more effective in removing surface stains.
2. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide
Using a paste made of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide is said to remove plaque buildup
and bacteria to get rid of stains.
Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide to make a paste.
Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after brushing with this paste. You can also use the
same ratio of ingredients to make a mouthwash. Or, you can try baking soda with water.
You can purchase baking soda and hydrogen peroxide online. You can also buy 2012 study
found that people who used a toothpaste containing baking soda and peroxide got rid of tooth
stains and whitened their teeth. They showed significant improvements after 6 weeks.
A 2017 review of the research on toothpastes with baking soda also concluded that they’re
effective and safe for removing tooth stains and whitening teeth, and can be used daily.
3. Coconut oil pulling
Coconut oil pulling is said to remove plaque and bacteria from the mouth, which helps to whiten
teeth. Always shop for a high quality, organic oil, which you can purchase online, that doesn’t
contain harmful ingredients.
Swish 1 to 2 teaspoons of liquid coconut oil in your mouth for 10 to 30 minutes. Don’t let the oil
touch the back of your throat. Don’t swallow the oil as it contains toxins and bacteria from your
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4. mouth.
Spit it into the toilet or a wastepaper basket, as it could clog drains. Rinse your mouth with water
and then drink a full glass of water. Then brush your teeth.
There are no specific studies that confirm the teeth whitening effect of oil pulling.
However, a 2015 study found that oil pulling using sesame oil and sunflower oil reduced
gingivitis caused by plaque. Oil pulling could have a whitening effect on teeth, as plaque
buildup can cause teeth to turn yellow.
Further studies on the effect of oil pulling with coconut oil are needed.
4. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar can be used in very small amounts to whiten teeth.
Make a mouthwash by mixing 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with 6 ounces of water. Swish
the solution for 30 seconds. Then rinse with water and brush your teeth.
Shop for apple cider vinegar.
Research published in 2014 
found that apple vinegar has a bleaching effect on cow teeth.
However, it should be noted that it has the potential to cause damage to the hardness and
surface structure of teeth. So, use it with caution, and only use it for short amounts of time. More
human studies are needed to expand upon these findings.
5. Lemon, orange, or banana peels
Some people claim that rubbing lemon, orange, or banana peels on your teeth will make them
whiter. It’s believed that the compound d-limonene and/or citric acid, which is found in some
citrus fruit peels, will help to whiten your teeth.
Gently rub the fruit peels on your teeth for about 2 minutes. Make sure to thoroughly rinse out
your mouth and brush your teeth afterward.
Scientific research proving the effectiveness of using fruit peels to make teeth whiter is lacking.
A 2010 study 
looked at the effect of a toothpaste containing 5 percent d-limonene in
removing teeth stains resulting from smoking and tea.
People who brushed with a toothpaste containing d-limonene combined with a whitening
formula twice daily for 4 weeks significantly reduced smoking stains, though it didn’t remove
long-standing smoking stains or tea stains.
Further studies are needed to determine if d-limonene is effective on its own. A 2015 study
reported that DIY whitening with strawberries or using citric acid was not effective.
A 2017 study tested the potential of citric acid extracts from four different types of orange peel
as a teeth whitener. They were shown to have varying abilities on whitening teeth, with
tangerine peel extract achieving the best results.
Be careful when using this strategy because fruit’s acidic. The acid can erode and wear away
your enamel. If you notice that your teeth are becoming more sensitive, please stop using this
method.
6. Activated charcoal
You can use activated charcoal to remove stains from your teeth. It’s believed that charcoal can
remove pigments and stains from your teeth because it’s highly absorbent. It’s said to also get
rid of bacteria and toxins in the mouth.
There are toothpastes that contain activated charcoal and claim to whiten teeth.
You can purchase activated charcoal for teeth whitening online.
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5. Open a capsule of activated charcoal and put the contents on your toothbrush. Gently brush
your teeth using small circles for 2 minutes. Be especially careful in the area around your gums
as it can be abrasive. Then spit it out. Don’t brush too aggressively.
If your teeth are sensitive or you want to limit the abrasiveness of the charcoal, you can dab it
on your teeth. Leave it on for 2 minutes.
You can also mix activated charcoal with a small amount of water to make a mouthwash. Swish
this solution for 2 minutes and then spit it out. Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after
using activated charcoal.
More scientific evidence is required to investigate the effectiveness of activated charcoal for
teeth whitening. One paper published in 2019 found that charcoal toothpaste can whiten teeth
within 4 weeks of use, but it wasn’t as effective as other whitening toothpastes.
Research has found that activated charcoal can be abrasive on teeth and tooth-colored
restorations, leading to loss of tooth structure. This abrasiveness may make your teeth look
more yellow.
If you wear away too much enamel, more of the yellowy dentin underneath will become
exposed. Be cautious when using charcoal and charcoal-based dentifrices, especially because
of the lack of evidence to prove its effectiveness and safety.
7. Eating fruits and vegetables with a higher water content
It’s said that eating raw fruits and vegetables with a high-water content can help to keep your
teeth healthy. The water content is thought to cleanse your teeth and gums of plaque and
bacteria that lead to yellow teeth.
Chewing on crunchy fruits and vegetables at the end of a meal may increase saliva production.
This can help to remove food particles that are stuck in your teeth and wash away any harmful
acids.
While there’s no doubt that a diet high in fruits and vegetables is good for your dental and
overall health, there’s not a lot of scientific evidence that supports these claims. That said, eating
these healthy foods throughout the day certainly won’t do any harm.
A review published in 2019 found that vitamin C deficiency can increase the severity of
periodontitis.
While the study didn’t look at the whitening effect of vitamin C on teeth, it links high-plasma
vitamin C levels to healthy teeth. The research suggests that high levels of vitamin C can reduce
the amount of plaque that causes teeth to become yellow.
A 2012 study 
found that a toothpaste containing papain and bromelain extract showed
significant stain removal. Papain is an enzyme found in papaya. Bromelain is an enzyme present
in pineapple.
Further studies are warranted to expand upon these findings.
There are many factors that can cause teeth to turn yellow.
Teeth can become yellow from:
certain foods or drinks, such as blueberries, red wine, coffee, or tea
a diet high in sugar and simple carbohydrates
smoking or chewing tobacco
side effects of certain medications and mouthwashes
age, as older adults are more likely to have yellow teeth
genetics
mouth trauma
excessive fluoride consumption
poor dental care and oral hygiene
What causes yellow teeth?
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6. chronic dry mouth or lack of saliva
There are many at-home options you can try to whiten your teeth.
However, be cautious because you can damage your enamel or gums, which can lead to
sensitivity and cavities. The best way to whiten your teeth is to prevent stains before they
happen, continue to practice good oral hygiene, and have regular dental checkups.
If you’ve tried these methods without success, your dentist may be able to help you determine if
another treatment method may be a better option.
Last medically reviewed on December 2, 2019
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