Tea, Coffee, Smoking and Red Wine are all known to contribute to tooth discolouration.

With an increased focus on natural and home treatments you might be surprised at some of the more popular teeth-whitening suggestions out there!

Strawberries, for instance, contain an enzyme called malic acid which it is claimed is a natural tooth whitener. Numerous natural health websites recommend mashing up a few strawberries, rubbing them on your teeth and leaving for 5 minutes before rinsing and brushing as usual.

Charcoal is a really popular ingredient in a variety of health and beauty uses at the moment and activated charcoal powder is said by some to absorb stains and bacteria, making teeth whiter. There are even charcoal toothpastes that are now widely available.

Baking Soda is also an ingredient in several whitening toothpastes due to its lightly abrasive qualities and brushing your teeth with baking soda is undoubtedly a good alternative if you do ever find yourself without any toothpaste.

Finally, Oil Pulling (the ancient Indian practice of swishing a tablespoon of coconut oil through your teeth) is another trend that has done the rounds and people who practice it today claim that it helps whiten their teeth.

I’m afraid, however, there is no real evidence to support the teeth-whitening properties of these natural treatments although some will certainly help to clean teeth - I have long been extolling the virtues of fibrous foods such as celery and apples and plain popping corn as “natural toothbrushes”.

The treatments are probably harmless enough used in moderation but the truth is they are unlikely to do much to whiten your teeth. As the Oral Health Foundation's states: "It is important to understand that, in the long-term, the only way to get the white teeth many people desire is through professional whiting services provided by a dental professional.”

If you would like to find out more about the teeth-whitening services available come and see us at Kilbarchan Dental Practice, call 01505 704969 or click www.kilbarchandental.co.uk where you’ll find lots more free tips and advice.

Have a look at our other articles. This one tells you more about teeth-whitening services at Kilbarchan Dental Practice