We all want a bright, healthy smile. But teeth whitening treatments can be expensive, and sometimes a little too harsh. In Lagos alone, teeth whitening services charge anywhere from ₦50,000 to ₦200,000! That’s enough to make anyone consider just smiling with their mouth closed. 

What if we told you that some of the best ways to naturally whiten your teeth could be sitting in your kitchen right now?

Certain foods can actually help clean and brighten your teeth as you eat them. These won’t give you a pearly white smile overnight, though. But adding these foods to your daily routine can gently scrub away surface stains, fight bacteria, and give your teeth a whiter look over time.

So, if you’re looking for a natural way to brighten your smile, keep reading. Here are five foods that can help you whiten your teeth, no chemicals, no stress.

1. Strawberries

This might surprise you, but strawberries can actually help whiten your teeth. They contain malic acid, which helps remove surface stains. 

Mash up a fresh strawberry and rub it gently on your teeth for a minute or two, then rinse and brush as usual. You can also just eat them as chewing helps scrub your teeth naturally.

Just remember, strawberries also have sugar and natural acids, so it’s still important to brush afterwards.

RECOMMENDED: 5 dentist-approved toothbrushes for sparkling teeth

2. Apples

Crunchy fruits like apples act like a natural scrub for your teeth. The firm texture helps remove plaque and surface stains while you chew, and their high water content increases saliva flow, which helps wash away debris.

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An apple a day keeps the dentist… well, maybe not away, but it definitely helps keep your teeth cleaner between brushes.

3. Carrots

Raw carrots work much like apples. Their crunch helps scrub away plaque and food bits from your teeth. Plus, chewing carrots makes your mouth produce more saliva, which naturally washes your teeth and keeps them cleaner.

Bonus: they’re great for your skin and eyes too!

RELATED: Struggling with yellow teeth? The foods you eat might be to blame

4. Pineapple

Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain, which can help break down stains and plaque. Some whitening toothpastes even use bromelain because it’s so good at cleaning. Eating fresh pineapple can help keep your smile brighter, and some studies even suggest bromelain may help reduce gum inflammation.

Just avoid canned versions and stick to the fresh stuff for the best benefits.

5. Cheese

Cheese is rich in calcium, which strengthens tooth enamel and helps protect against decay. Certain hard cheeses also help remove food particles and surface stains as you chew.

Plus, cheese lowers acid levels in your mouth, which keeps your teeth from getting discoloured over time.

The reality of natural whitening

These foods won’t give you overnight miracles, but they can help maintain a naturally whiter smile over time, without the sensitivity or expense of harsh treatments.

READ MORE: 3 home remedies for tooth decay and cavities

Lagos is an adventure in its own right, with many unique experiences. And whether you are living in Lagos or visiting for the first time, the city never ceases to shower you with surprises.

There’s a popular saying that every Lagos resident is mad, and it’s easy to see why. How can you navigate the never-ending traffic, danfo horns, and agbero hustles without losing it?

But the good news is that you can experience the worst of Lagos street life and still maintain your steeze.

Here, let’s look at some simple but proven tips that can help you keep your head above Lagos’ street madness as you go about your activities.

ALSO READ: How to still live your best life amidst Lagos street chaos

1. Start Your Day Before the City Wakes Up

Lagos is wild – I know. But the craze starts when the day breaks. Waking up early gives you a head start before the traffic gods rise. You’ll beat the rush, enjoy some rare silence, and get into your day’s activities before the city wakes up.

2. Master the Art of “Soft Ignorance”

Sometimes, you just have to ignore things. That bus conductor is shouting in your ear off? The guy cutting the line as you wait to buy breakfast? All of them have one mission – to frustrate you! But peace comes the moment you realize you can pretend like none of the chaos exists. Nothing beats minding your business amidst all the provocations in the street. You’ll be glad you did.

3. Invest in Good Headphones (and a Power Bank!)

Whether you’re on a bus, bike, or BRT, your playlist or podcast is your sanity shield. Drown out the chaos and escape into a world of beautiful music. And trust me, your phone dying mid-Lekki traffic is a tragedy you don’t want. So don’t forget always to carry your power bank.

4. Build a “Calm Corner” at Home

ALSO READ: Street OT 101: How to avoid intimidation from Lagos touts

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You need a space where Lagos can’t reach you. Decorate a corner with soft pillows, candles, books, maybe even fairy lights. Make it your chill zone – where all the shouting, fights, drama, and online banters can’t reach you. Just you and yourself!

5. Find Your Escape Spot

It could be a quiet café in Ikoyi, a beach in Tarkwa Bay, or your favorite amala joint in Surulere. You need a go-to spot to recharge when the city gets too loud. You don’t know how much happiness you get from these places.

6. Accept That Traffic Is a Lifestyle

Lagos traffic is a love language. You’ll spend hours in it. Instead of fighting it, prepare for it. There are so many things you can do in it. Bring your movie playlist, movie bucket list, and even official works to it. Trust me, the route is always shorter when you’re drowned in something you enjoy.

7. Surround Yourself With Good People

Your Lagos tribe matters. People who lift you, laugh with you during PHCN outages, and send you traffic updates. Keep your circle strong and drama-free. Lagos friendships are gold when they’re real, but you have to be picky to find the best people who can match your vibe.

ALSO READ: Are You Truly Nigerian? Prove it with these 15 slangs and pidgin phrases

8. Laugh Often – Even When Things Are Mad

Laughter is indeed a medicine, and in Lagos, sometimes all you can do is laugh. Missed the bus? Laugh. No fuel and PHCN disappeared? Laugh again. If you don’t learn to find humour in the madness, the madness will find you first.

Dear Pulse,

I have a crush on my pastor! He is a young, fine, sexy man, but very married. He pastors a small, growing church in my area, and I am relatively new, let’s say 3 months in. Honestly, I don’t like the church, it’s not giving me the vibe, I prefer those big churches where you can meet fine boys and see fashion, but God is everywhere, sha.

The real reason I am still in this church is the pastor!!! I have developed a huge crush on him, but he doesn’t know. He usually says hi to me after service, although I know it’s him just being nice to a new member, but I have grown fond of him.

ALSO READ: ASK PULSE: My mother and sister beat up my wife and she moved out

He sexually arouses me. When he is talking to me, I get wet. When he is praying for me, I get wet. When I watch him on the pulpit, I also get wet. I see him in my dreams, and I sometimes touch myself at home when I am listening to his sermons. May God forgive me.

It’s more than a crush now, I think it’s love. In my opinion, his wife is not up to his standards. Could it be that he made a mistake and I am his real wife? I go to every church service now just to see him. I manufacture problems so that he can counsel me alone. I even fall under the anointing so that he can touch my body.

I am thinking of taking it a step further. I want to get naked in front of him when we are alone. Should I do it? Maybe he likes me and he can’t say it, but when he sees my nakedness, maybe he will have the courage.

No one is perfect, so please don’t judge me. Should I go ahead?

— Jacinta.

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ALSO READ: ASK PULSE: I have sex with my husband 3 times a day yet he still cheats

Dear Jacinta,

Thank you for being honest and vulnerable; it’s not easy to admit these kinds of feelings. My 1st advice to you would be to separate fantasy from reality. What you’re experiencing sounds incredibly intense and consuming. Crushes can be powerful, especially when they’re focused on someone who seems spiritual, charismatic, and gives you attention.

But when we act on those feelings without boundaries, especially with someone who is married and in a position of spiritual authority, it can cause deep emotional harm, both for you and others involved.

Let’s be clear: this man is married, and as a pastor, he holds a responsibility to serve, not to fulfil personal or romantic desires. Pursuing someone else’s spouse, especially through manipulation or seduction, doesn’t create a real relationship; it creates a cycle of guilt, secrecy, and emotional damage that will likely leave you feeling even more alone or rejected later.

You’re human. Attraction happens. But what matters most is what you do with those feelings. You said you don’t really like the church, so it might be a good idea to step back, find a church community where you truly feel spiritually nourished, and give yourself space to process this emotionally.

My advice:

• Don’t act on your desire to seduce him. It will not bring the love or peace you’re hoping for.

• Consider taking a break from the church and seeking out a faith-based counsellor or therapist who can help you explore these feelings in a safe, supportive way.

• Redirect your energy toward self-love, personal growth, and finding healthy, mutual relationships where love is honest and free.

Love should not be hidden, complicated, or hurt someone else.

— Pulse.

ALSO READ: Ask Pulse: I slept with my best friend’s husband on their wedding night…