Products aimed at beautifying your smile line the shelves of drugstores these days. The problem? Many of these teeth whitening products contain chemicals that can be harmful to your health and can ultimately lead to eroding the enamel on your teeth.

Even professional whitening performed by a dentist can lead to painful sensitivity, and the methods used are not natural in the slightest. However, don’t give up hope: if you want a brighter, whiter grin, there is a once-a-week method that can have you flashing your pearliest whites—the natural way and you only need a few ingredients such as baking soda and a lemon.

How to Naturally Whiten Teeth

You can naturally and cheaply whiten your teeth at home using just two simple, all-natural ingredients and a toothbrush. You can brush your way to a whiter smile in just a few minutes’ time, once per week. Here’s what you’ll need:

1 tablespoon of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) – you can also use baking soda as a general kitchen medicine.
The juice of half a lemon or lime  – also see how to use lemon as a medicine.
A clean, new toothbrush
That’s it! Here is how to put nature’s smile brightener to work for you:

 
Teeth Whitening at Home – The Method

Place a tablespoon of baking soda into a small bowl and squeeze the juice of half a lemon (or half a lime) over the top.
The mixture will fizz up as the soda interacts with the citric acid in the citrus juice.
Once the fizzing subsides somewhat, take your toothbrush and stir the mixture into a thick paste. If the paste is too runny, add a dash or two more of baking soda until the proper consistency has been reached.
Put the paste onto the toothbrush and brush all of your teeth thoroughly, just as you would with regular toothpaste.
Rinse your mouth out well with plenty of water, and you’re done! That’s all there is to it.
Whitening Teeth with Baking Soda & Lemon – things to Consider

– This natural whitening method should be performed no more than once per week in order to get a bright smile without harming the protective enamel covering the teeth.

 
– It is recommended that you use a fresh, clean toothbrush your first time trying the method and dedicating that toothbrush specifically to being used for whitening—in other words, don’t use your daily-use toothbrush for your whitening treatment.

– If you don’t have lemons or limes on hand, 1-2 tablespoons of water may be substituted to create the whitening paste.

– This treatment is not recommended for people who wear dental braces, as it would cause uneven whitening that would be noticeable once the braces were removed.

– The taste of the whitening mixture is tart and a bit strange, but the amount used for whitening is completely safe and non-toxic in case you should accidentally swallow it (although you might find the flavor a bit nauseating if you happen to do so).

– After just one month of use—only four treatments—you should begin to see results in the form of a whiter, brighter smile!

More Tips on How to Keep Your Teeth Healthy & White

Try to avoid these 12 foods and drinks that can cause yellow teeth.
Learn how to use eggshells to heal cavities.
In addition to what I’ve mentioned there are 13 other natural methods to whiten your teeth.
You should also consider using coconut oil as a toothpaste.