The festive season is here. It’s time to look your best as you do the rounds of parties and catch up with friends and relatives. Here’s a simple trick to help you put on a winning smile, without burning a hole in your pocket. It may not produce the dazzling results that a dentist can, but I like the fact that it uses natural, safe ingredients. The less chemicals we expose ourselves to, the better.

Strawberry Teeth-Whitening Recipe
Ingredients:
1 ripe strawberry
1/2 teaspoon baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)

Method:
1) Crush the strawberry to a pulp and mix in the baking soda.
2) Use a soft toothbrush to spread the mixture unto your teeth. Leave on for 5 minutes.
3) Rinse off and brush thoroughly with a safe toothpaste like Neways Ultrashine Radiance to remove the strawberry-baking soda mix.

The active ingredient in strawberries which removes surface discoloration is malic acid, found in sour or tart fruits. Malic acid acts like an astringent. Baking soda combines with the strawberry to produce a natural tooth-cleanser, cleaning away stains from tea, coffee and so on.

The acid can damage the enamel on your teeth if you use this concoction too often, so don’t overdo it.