They say your eyes are the gateway to your soul, and your teeth are the gateway to your self-confidence. If you ever get self-conscious because your teeth were not so white, fear not. You are at the right blog as I will show you what you can whiten your teeth with baking soda and other products so as to restore that smile to former glory. It's not difficult and can be done with products at home, most of which are already available in your house.
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Caution! I've seen in several articles people recommending adding lemon juice (citric acid) or vinegar (acetic acid) to the mixture. Don't do it. Acid erodes the enamel and you wouldn't want that to occur. Remember one of the mechanisms of tooth decay is an acid environment created by bacteria destroying the enamel. You wouldn't want to add petrol to fire, would you?
This means the best method to whiten your teeth at home is using the 5th method. There are some habits that also help keep your teeth white. These include:
What are the techniques?
1. Whiten teeth with baking soda
Baking soda is a fine abrasive that removes plaque when you scrub your teeth with it, making them whiter. The good thing is the results are instant and you can repeat the process per rising need. For best results keep on reading.Caution! I've seen in several articles people recommending adding lemon juice (citric acid) or vinegar (acetic acid) to the mixture. Don't do it. Acid erodes the enamel and you wouldn't want that to occur. Remember one of the mechanisms of tooth decay is an acid environment created by bacteria destroying the enamel. You wouldn't want to add petrol to fire, would you?
2. Using natural oils
This is another trend that has generated interest especially among organic food enthusiasts. The most common oil is coconut oil. They say by swishing the oil in your mouth the oil removes plaque and bacteria leaving your teeth whiter and shinier. The technique is called 'oil pulling'. It's a good technique, given that coconut oil has other health benefits, and it tastes like coconut.3. Activated charcoal
Activated charcoal is a strong absorbent so by brushing your teeth twice or three times a week you pull the plaque and bacteria from your teeth thereby whitening them. It's not the cleanest method. I'm sure you wouldn't want black powder all over the bathroom and it tastes like charcoal. I'd rather leave charcoal for emergencies where it belongs unless you can tolerate it.4. 3% Hydrogen peroxide solution
Swish a solution of hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) in your mouth for a minute or two on a daily basis and you start to see results. The peroxide kills bacteria and removes plaque. On it's own the results are not that striking. You'll need to see number 5 where it's used as a combination.5. Mixture of baking soda and Hydrogen peroxide
To whiten your teeth with baking soda and peroxide is the real deal. 2 compounds working differently to achieve the same results. As explained earlier, baking soda is an abrasive and mechanically scrubs off plaque while the peroxide dissolves the plaque and removes bacteria. The results are very good, you teeth will be nice and clean.This means the best method to whiten your teeth at home is using the 5th method. There are some habits that also help keep your teeth white. These include:
- Brushing your teeth at least twice a day
- Flossing your teeth regularly
- Eating fresh fruits and vegetables (they have a natural cleaning effect), especially fresh, juicy fruits
- Drink lots of water
- Don't abuse mouthwashes you get rid of the good bacteria. Stick to what is advised by dentists
- Stop smoking because smoke tends to discolour teeth