When one thinks of definition of beauty, the first defining feature that comes to mind is a beautiful smile. A good smile is very important in impressing people. Researchers believe that many times having a good smile can make the difference in bagging that much coveted job.

Stained and yellow-looking teeth look awful and can mar a naturally beautiful smile. Stains and discoloration are caused by age, smoking, excessive drinking of tea, coffee, aerated drinks. The discoloration becomes visible when the tooth enamel breaks down, becoming more transparent, and allowing yellow color of dentin, which is tooth’s core material to show through. Tooth enamel tends to wear down over the years because of the wear and tear that teeth go through.

There are two types of stains:

Extrinsic stains:
Extrinsic stains appear on the teeth because of intake of beverages such as coffee, tea, aerated drinks and general wear and tear of the teeth. Most extrinsic stains can be removed by bleaching.

Intrinsic stains:
Intrinsic stains are caused on the interior of the teeth. These stains result from trauma to the tooth, aging or because of excessive use of fluoride.

Both extrinsic and intrinsic stains can be removed by cosmetic dentistry. This could be either in the form of one-hour bleaching sessions at the dentist’s clinic or bleaching kits that can be used at home.

Teeth whitening at the dentist’s clinic can be expensive. So, if you want a more affordable treatment, you can try some home remedies which will whiten teeth to a certain extent.

The most proven method of whitening teeth at home is the use of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). You can mix half a teaspoon of baking soda with regular toothpaste to whiten teeth.

Or you could mix baking soda with water and brush teeth with this paste. This may not bleach your teeth as effectively as a professional whitening treatment but it will help in getting rid of stains. However, do not use this treatment everyday as baking soda can damage the enamel.