Teeth whitening: Dentist recommends using these household items to help keep your smile naturally bright

A dentist has revealed the secret to achieving pearly whites at home - and all it might take is a rummage in the cupboard. Dr Safa Al-Naher, director of dental and aesthetics company Serene, has revealed that the use of two household staple items could help you get that Hollywood smile to home. But what are the magical products?

Baking soda is one, having been used in dental products such as toothpaste to help scrub away yellow stains. She said: "Baking soda is mildly abrasive and has been used historically to remove stains on the teeth."

Dr Al-Naher warned that it shouldn't be used too often, as the abrasive nature of the baking soda can scrub away at your teeth too much. She explained: "You wouldn't use a very abrasive face scrub too often because you could wear away or cause a lot of damage to your skin. And it's the same thing with teeth. You don't want to scrub them too hard with something too abrasive."

However, while baking soda may have a positive affect on the risk of tooth decay, the expert maintains that there is no better substitute for fluoride, adding: "Toothpaste contains fluoride and it's the fluoride that has many more proven benefits to teeth in terms of reversing tooth decay."

As for the other product that just might be the secret to a sparkling smile, coconut oil has been shown to help regulate plaque control and kill bacteria in the mouth. Dr Al-Naher said: "There's not a lot of evidence for coconut oil, but there is some anecdotal evidence to show that it can be beneficial."

She added: "Coconut oil shouldn't be used as a replacement to fluoride toothpaste because it's not going to make your teeth stronger. But it has been used for centuries all over the world, so there is some evidence for it."