Everyone wants a whiter smile, but the cost of having your teeth professionally whitened can be astronomical. Over-the-counter teeth whiteners are also expensive and are loaded with chemicals that can be detrimental to your health. There is an alternative to expensive chemicals, and that is whitening your teeth with a natural recipe that can be made at home. The recipe calls for sodium bicarbonate and hydrogen peroxide, which were shown in a study published in the Journal of the American Dental Hygiene Association to kill mouth bacteria, which can cause discoloration as well as cavities.
Whitening Teeth Naturally
Step 1
Mix 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide with enough baking soda to make a paste. Keep in an airtight container.
Step 2
Wet the bristles of a soft toothbrush with warm water. Dip the brush into the peroxide/baking soda paste and gently brush your teeth. Leave the paste on your teeth for 2 minutes.
Step 3
Hold the toothbrush under running water and rinse the mixture out of the brush. Now apply the wet toothbrush to your teeth and continue to rinse your teeth with the water and toothbrush until you have cleaned the paste off your teeth. Follow up with a final rinse of lukewarm water. Follow steps one through three twice a week.
Step 4
Take the cap off the hydrogen peroxide bottle and fill it with water. Put the water in your mouth, but do not swallow. Next, fill the cap with hydrogen peroxide and pour the capful of peroxide in your mouth. Again, do not swallow.
Step 5
Rinse your mouth for 1 minute with the diluted hydrogen peroxide. Spit out when finished. Perform this rinse (steps 4 and 5) twice daily.
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Tips and Warnings
- While many home recipes for teeth whitening call for various fruits, using them often can cause damage to the tooth enamel. See your dentist at least every six months for routine cleanings.
- Always dilute the hydrogen peroxide with water, as using it at full strength can be harmful to gums over time.
Things You'll Need
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
- Soft-bristled toothbrush
- Water
