6 Natural Ways to Whiten Teeth at Home

Coconut Oil/Oil Pulling

We all know that coconut oil is a miracle worker for our hair, but it turns out it can do your teeth some good, too. The Ayurvedic tradition of oil pulling is meant to help dissolve toxins, bacteria, and plaque inside the mouth, which might result in a brighter smile in addition to improved overall oral health. Swish for 15 to 20 minutes daily (you can start at five and work your way up), and you'll begin to see results in as soon as a week.

Byrdie Tip

If scooping a glob of coconut oil into your mouth seems too intense, try one of these alternatives:

• Use sunflower or sesame seed oil to swish instead; sesame seed oil is the traditional substance used for pulling.
• Put a dollop of coconut oil on your toothbrush and gently scrub away.

Remember, however, that this is not a substitute for your normal dental care. "This is fine, but you still need to do all the regular hygiene steps: floss, brush, clean your tongue, and rinse," says Raimondi.