Make Teeth Whitener

Having white teeth can give you confidence. However, professional treatments and commercial at-home whitening kits can be expensive and use harsh chemicals. If you are looking for a more natural homemade teeth whitener, baking-soda based treatments can be inexpensive and effective. There are also several ways to use certain foods to whiten your teeth.

Steps

Using Baking Soda-Based Whiteners

  1. Use baking soda directly on your teeth. Baking soda is a mild abrasive that can scrub plaque and surface stains off of your teeth. You can apply it to your teeth as a whitener in a number of ways:
    • Dip a dampened toothbrush directly into powdered baking soda.[1] Brush your teeth as you normally would, spit out the baking soda, and rinse your mouth with water.
    • Make a paste of baking soda and water.[2] Put some baking soda in a small container that you can close (to store the paste). Slowly stir water a few drops at a time into the baking soda until a smooth paste forms. Apply to your toothbrush, then brush and rinse your teeth as normal.
    • Baking soda might irritate the tissues of your mouth. If you notice any inflammation or soreness, use this treatment less frequently.
  2. Make a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Baking soda combined with hydrogen peroxide makes a very effective teeth whitener.[3] This treatment, however, should not be used frequently. Hydrogen peroxide can irritate the tissues of your mouth, and prolonged use may cause serious problems.[4] To make this whitener:
    • Pour a teaspoon of baking soda into a bowl or small dish.
    • Stir five to seven drops of hydrogen peroxide into the baking soda until a smooth paste forms.
    • You can also add a drop of peppermint extract to improve the flavor of the mixture.[5]
    • Apply to your toothbrush, then brush and rinse your teeth as normal.
    • Be sure to spit out all of the peroxide—do not swallow it. Rinse your mouth well afterwards.
  3. Mix baking soda and lemon juice. Since the citric acid found in lemon juice is a natural bleaching agent, it can make a great whitening agent.[6] You can make a paste by combining the two ingredients, and use it infrequently as a whitener.
    • Pour a teaspoon of baking soda into a bowl or small dish.
    • Stir lemon juice a few drops at a time into the baking soda until a smooth paste is formed.
    • Apply the paste to your teeth (using a finger is fine) and let it sit for two to three minutes.
    • Rinse your teeth with water afterwards.
    • Use this treatment no more than once a week, as citric acid can also damage the enamel of your teeth, and irritate the tissues of your mouth.
  4. Make a paste of baking soda and vinegar. Vinegar is acidic, like lemon, and so it can help to whiten your teeth, especially when combined with baking soda. A mixture of the two can be used as a paste to brush your teeth clean.[6]
    • Pour a teaspoon of baking soda into a bowl or small dish.
    • Stir vinegar a few drops at a time into the baking soda until a smooth paste is formed.
    • Dip a dampened toothbrush in the paste and brush as normal.
    • Rinse your mouth with water afterwards.

Using Foods to Whiten Your Teeth

  1. Eat crunchy fruits and vegetables. Apples, celery, and carrots are crunchy, and eating them can help scrub surface stains off of your teeth.[7][8] In addition, they may kill bacteria and improve your breath.
  2. Eat more dairy products. These products (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.) contain lactic acid, which might help protect your teeth.[9] Some of them can also help whiten your teeth and/or prevent some stains:
    • Hard cheeses can scrub some surface stains from your teeth, and block some stain-causers such as wine or coffee from discoloring your teeth, if you eat some prior to drinking.
    • Eating dairy products is good for your teeth, but don’t consume too much of sugary foods such as ice cream, as these can contribute to tooth decay.
  3. Use sage to scrub your teeth. Sage has an antiseptic effect, and for this reason is even found in some mouthwashes and gargles. It can also help to whiten your teeth.[10] Simply rub fresh sage leaves on your teeth.[11][12]
  4. Make a strawberry paste. Strawberries contain an enzyme called malic acid that may help to whiten your teeth.[9][13] You can simply rub a sliced strawberry on your teeth, or mash fresh strawberries into a paste and rub it on your teeth. Leave it on your teeth for five minutes, and then rinse with water. Brush and floss your teeth as normal afterwards.
    • You can add half a teaspoon of baking soda to the paste, if desired.[14]
    • Research shows that a strawberry paste will only remove surface debris.[15] If you want more intensive whitening, seek other treatments.
  5. Use fresh lemon. Natural bleaching agents found in lemon can help whiten your teeth; however, the citric acid found lemons can also wear away your tooth enamel, so you should not overuse this method.[13] Simply take a slice of lemon peel and rub it on your teeth.



Tips

  • Prevention can help keep your teeth white. Drinks such as coffee, tea, and wine (both red and white), and foods such as berries and colored candy can all stain your teeth. Use these in moderation to help keep your teeth whiter.

Warnings

  • The American Dental Association suggests consulting a dentist for whitening treatments.[16] If you are concerned about using homemade treatments, talk to your dentist first.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://oconto.uwex.edu/files/2011/02/baking-soda.pdf
  2. ↑ http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/endless_uses_of_baking_soda
  3. ↑ http://women.smokefree.gov/give-your-teeth-a-makeover.aspx
  4. ↑ Supritha Naik, Christopher Jeremy Tredwin, Crispian Scully, Hydrogen peroxide tooth-whitening (bleaching): Review of safety in relation to possible carcinogenesis, Oral Oncology, Volume 42, Issue 7, August 2006.
  5. ↑ http://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/childrens-health/child-care-food-program/nutrition/_documents/lesson-plans/lesson10.pdf
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 http://sundial.csun.edu/2010/02/recession-living-get-a-brighter-smile-without-breaking-the-bank/
  7. ↑ http://www.unh.edu/healthyunh/blog/2012/10/nutrition-behind-whiter-teeth
  8. ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=4062
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 http://member.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-05-2011/5-foods-that-whiten-teeth-naturally.html
  10. ↑ http://goodlifegarden.ucdavis.edu/blog/tag/basil/
  11. ↑ http://pss.uvm.edu/pss123/hersage.html
  12. ↑ http://ext100.wsu.edu/clark/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2014/02/Sage.pdf
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 http://www.bahamasdentalassociation.org/
  14. ↑ http://www.rochester.edu/working/hr/wellness/library/FTT-June25.pdf
  15. ↑ http://now.uiowa.edu/2014/10/want-whiter-teeth-fruit-mixture-not-answer
  16. ↑ http://www.ada.org/en/about-the-ada/ada-positions-policies-and-statements/tooth-whitening-safety-and-effectiveness

__

You may like

Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Make_Teeth_Whitener&oldid=358937"