Whiten your teeth naturally

The enamel on the surface of your teeth is one of the hardest substances in the body, but even it can weaken and discolour if you neglect it. Stained enamel causes teeth to look patchy, yellow and stained. Expensive professional whitening can restore your teeth, but try these natural whitening tips and remedies first and you may be surprised at the difference.

Brush basics

Most obvious of all, brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft toothbrush and don't forget to floss! Brushing clears food debris, plaque and bacteria from your teeth - all of which can cause staining. Remember your brushing technique matters: brush away from the gumline gently; cover all areas and pay special attention to the back teeth; brush your tongue and brush for 2-minutes.

Avoid the dark

If you've got an important engagement or are on a date and want to maintain the perfect smile, avoid dark coloured foods such as red wine, dark gravies and coffees or colas as these may leave a stain on teeth. If you do eat or drink dark coloured foods, brush your teeth immediately afterwards. Tar from cigarettes is just about the most darkening danger to teeth, and cause stubborn stain. Apart from saving the appearance of your teeth, quitting smoking will do wonders for your health.

Bite into nature's toothbrushes

It's not always convenient to brush your teeth, especially if you're travelling or at the office. Instead, opt for 'nature's toothbrushes': bite into an apple, some raw carrot or celery. These healthy, tasty and vitamin-rich snacks not only add fibre and other nutritional goodies into your diet, but have a teeth cleaning action as well. Popcorn has the same effect - just remember to use it plain!

Gargle some apple cider vinegar

Want fresh breath and white teeth the natural way? Add a couple of teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to one cup (about 240ml) of water and gargle for 10 seconds. Brush your teeth as normal. Just remember that apple cider vinegar is very acidic, so a little goes a long way.

Soda so good

We're not referring to the sugary drink, which is very bad on the teeth, but baking soda. Put a little baking soda on your toothbrush and brush as you normally would (gently, with a flicking motion away from the gumline and for at least 2-minutes). Use once or twice a week.