When you want to whiten your teeth, there are chemical bleaching kits that can be purchased over the counter to change your teeth by a few shades. If you are someone who does not like to put unnatural ingredients on your teeth, you may want to resort back to a few methods that were used years ago. There are a few folk remedies for whitening your teeth that can actually be effective. The following guide walks you through two of these teeth whitening options:

Use Coconut Oil to Get a Whiter Smile

Coconut oil has been shown to help your skin, hair, and teeth because it reduces the bacteria in your body and helps your body stay healthy from the inside out. When using coconut oil to whiten your teeth, all you need to do is put a teaspoon of the oil into your mouth and allow it to melt slightly. You then need to swish the oil around in your mouth as if you are rinsing with mouthwash. Swish for at least ten to fifteen minutes and then spit out the oil. Be sure to do this two to three times a day and you should see a whiter smile within a few days.

Use Activated Charcoal to Get a Whiter Smile

Activated charcoal can be found at any drugstore. The charcoal absorbs toxins and bacteria found in your mouth and removes them to leave you with a whiter smile. It comes in a pill that must be broken open and poured out onto a plate. Wet a toothbrush and rub the brush onto the pile of charcoal. Brush your teeth how you normally would--except use the charcoal instead of paste.

Allow the charcoal to sit for a few minutes and then use another toothbrush to brush away the charcoal with toothpaste. Instantly, you should see a difference in how white your smile looks. Do this a few times a week to make your smile even whiter.

If these remedies don't work for you, the best and most effective way to get a whiter smile is to go to the dentist and have him or her use professional whitening agents on your teeth. Talk with a place like George S Cochran DDS for more information. If you bleach in moderation, the ingredients used at the dentist's office are safe, and you will get you the results you want in far less time than with other remedies.