DIY TEETH WHITENING
Top 4 easy DIY Teeth whitening tips
With the holidays already here, you will find yourself posing and smiling for the camera more times than you bargained for, and therefore, you need to ensure that your pearly whites are in shape. However, while it is the wish of everyone to have the whitest smile in the room, such a smile does not come on a silver platter. It takes a trip to the dentist and a hole in your bank account. Fortunately, you don’t have to go the dentist way, as the DIY teeth whitening alternatives below will help make your pearly whites brighter.
Teeth whitening using baking soda paste
If there’s one product that has been a blessing to humanity, then it must be baking soda as it is effective in almost everything, including teeth whitening. Using baking soda for DIY teeth whitening is completely safe, as it is also an ingredients in most oral hygiene products.
To make this paste, you will need,
– A teaspoon of baking soda
– 2 tsp of food grade hydrogen peroxide
– A drop of peppermint essential oils
Directions
– Mix all the ingredients into a small bowl and make a smooth paste
– Dip your toothbrush and then brush gently for 2-3 minutes
– Rinse toothbrush and clean again using regular toothpaste.
Do this once a week and thank us later. However, keep in mind that baking soda is abrasive and will quickly damage your enamel, which is why as much as it is effective, you are advised not to do this more than once in a week.
All the ingredients in this DIY teeth whitening paste pack their perks. For instance, besides whitening, baking soda also creates an alkaline environment, a factor that helps keep bacteria at bay, while on the other hand, peroxide boasts natural bleaching properties and also kills bacteria. Lastly, due to its minty flavor, peppermint helps freshen your breath and at the same time fights bacteria.
Activated charcoal
You’ve probably seen this on the internet as it is a very popular method of DIY teeth whitening. For this method, you will only need activated charcoal and water. Mix the two, and gently apply the resulting mixture on the surface of your teeth. Leave it for two minutes, then rinse with water until all the residue is completely gone. Brush your teeth using ordinary toothpaste and then look at the mirror to reveal a flashy white smile.
Oil pulling using coconut oil
Oil pulling using coconut oil not only helps brighten your pearly whites but also helps reduce the bacteria responsible for gingivitis and tooth decay. This is because coconut oil paste boasts antimicrobial properties which help reduce the population of such bacteria. Additionally, it contains fatty acids which when combined with human saliva create a molecule that removes stains once you rinse or brush. However, this method of teeth whitening isn’t for the faint-hearted as it involves swishing coconut oil in your mouth for 20 minutes. You can make the process more bearable by adding a few drops of peppermint essential oil, or mashed leaves of the same to the coconut oil. Peppermint will help freshen your breath. Oil pulling using coconut oil is safe and can be done daily for better results.
Apple cider
Like baking soda, apple cider is yet another household product with 101 uses. Among its many applications, lies teeth whitening. According to an article on the reader’s digest, apple cider helps remove stains on the tooth surface. To increase its effectiveness, you can also use it to make a paste and use it not more than twice a week. Or rinse it like mouthwash before brushing your teeth.
Final thoughts
It is vital to note that the results of some of the DIY methods are not instant and hence, consistency is the key.