Say hello to pearly whites with these natural teeth-whitening tips!

Zee Media Bureau/Udita Madan

​New Delhi: Do you cringe if you have to smile for a photograph? Do you avoid socializing with people because you feel that your teeth are an embarrassment?

Discoloured or yellow teeth are a normality nowadays, if people's current lifestyles are considered. There are many reasons why your pearly whites might not be very pearly white. Excessive drinking – alcohol, tea or coffee, lack of personal hygiene, smoking, are a few of them.

Your teeth are one of the first things people notice. Good health and confidence are a couple of things that a good set of teeth promote.

Who doesn’t want to have a beautiful smile with white sparkling teeth?

People often seek clinical help to remove the yellow tinge from their teeth, but such treatments take time and are likely to be exhorbitant.

If you wish to get rid of yellow teeth, you can try some natural remedies. There are many kitchen ingredients that you can use to restore that pearly white smile.

Scroll down to find out what they are!

1. Baking soda and lemon juice:

You've certainly heard of the whitening properties of baking soda and lemon juice is considered a natural bleaching agent. Mix some baking soda with lemon juice , enough to make a paste. Take the paste on a toothbrush and brush your teeth thoroughly. Leave the paste on for 1 minute, then rinse, so as to avoid the acid effecting enamel. A piece of advise: Avoid frequent use of baking soda. It is an abrasive, meaning that it will help remove stains, but it can also be harmful. After continued use, it can begin to wear away the tooth enamel, which will cause your teeth to darken.

2. Strawberry and salt:

Strawberries contain a good amount of vitamin C, which helps make your teeth whiter. It also contains an enzyme called malic acid, which may help to remove surface stains. Salt on the other hand, is one of the fundamental dental cleansing agents that has been used since time immemorial. Many toothpaste brands also use salt as an ingredient in their toothpaste. All you have to do is take about three large strawberries, crush them into a pulp and add a pinch of salt. Take a generous amount of the mixture on your toothbrush and brush your teeth. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes before rinsing. You can also add a dash of baking soda in the mixture, but as mentioned above, it is better to avoid its frequent use.

3. Oil pulling:

This method of teeth whitening has been around like fire for a while and people haven't stopped gushing about its positive results! Coconut oil along with its health properties is here to stay. All you have to do is take a mouthful of coconut oil, (you can soften it beforehand or simply put it in your mouth and let it soften by itself), and swish it around in your mouth like a mouthwash for a good 10-15 minutes. Spit it out, rinse with water and then, brush your teeth. You can use this method once everyday!

Smile away!