What is a home remedy for whitening my teeth?

Dr. Oz suggests a teeth whitening home remedy using baking soda and lemon.

Follow these directions:
In a small bowl, mix a little bit of baking soda with the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon. The mixture should bubble slightly.

Using a cotton swab, wipe saliva and excess plaque from your teeth before brushing on the mixture. Leave the mixture on your teeth for a minute before gently brushing it off with a toothbrush.

Don’t leave the mixture on your teeth for any longer than a minute; the acid erodes tooth enamel.

To whiten your teeth at home, you have many options:

• whitening toothpastes
• avoiding foods that lead to tooth discoloration (red wine, coffee, tea, colas, berries)
• bleaching solutions

Bleaching solutions come in several strengths and usually contain the bleaching ingredient peroxide. Unlike whitening toothpastes, peroxide actually changes the color of your tooth enamel, making it lighter and whiter. You can buy an over-the-counter bleaching kit or get one from your dentist. Usually, you pour the solution into a special mouthpiece that you wear a couple times a day or overnight. The advantage of getting the kit from your dentist is that the mouthpiece will be customized to fit your mouth; also, the bleaching solution is usually stronger than the over-the-counter options.

If you experience side effects from the solution (irritation of your mouth or gums), contact your dentist.