Whitening Your Teeth

Ok, it's not as serious as most of the other health topics that are discussed on here, but I thought I would share a helpful tip.  I saw a dentist talking about this on the Today show a year or so ago and his advice was brilliant.  The whiteners you buy in the store are expensive, don't always work well and can destroy the enamel on your teeth.  I tried to use one once and it made my teeth hurt really bad within a day or two.

You put baking soda in a small bowl or shot glass and put about a tablespoon of baking soda in it.  Then you add a splash of hydrogen peroxide and stir it up.  The goal here is to make a paste out of it.  Not too liquidy or dry.  Then comes the part that will make you feel absolutely ridiculous.  Try to grin while pulling your lips back from your teeth.  Spread the goo on your teeth (I use my finger) and try your hardest to wait 3 minutes before washing it off.  The reason for this is that your mouth will wipe the stuff right off your teeth.  Then brush your teeth with the leftover stuff.

The doctor recommending doing it once a day for 3 days in a row if you have a big event in 3 days or when you first start and then doing it once a month.  I do it about once a month or every month.  I am an absolute coffee addict and like the good southern girl that I am, I just love my sweet tea so I should have stained teeth.  Since I have started this I have had a couple people ask for advice on how  to get their teeth whiter.  

You will feel silly while you do it, but it is so easy and doesn't hurt your teeth and you can get the needed supplies for less than $1.50 total. 

Adding the baking soda is a great tip - I usually just rinse with hydrogen peroxide diluted with water after I brush, but the baking soda will help too - Thanks!!

Haha I wish I knew about that before I bought my kit... =\

I should really try your method. How often is too often??

LemonJello

man i wish i could try this, but i literally GAG when peroxide touches my tongue. that taste....*shudders*

i've tried the strips and had a similar problem

The doctor didn't give any kind of warnings about doing it too often.  It doesn't eat away at the enamel so I am not sure that it would cause many problems if you do it more often.  I usually only do it once a month or every other month unless I have some sort of big event and I average 3 cups of strong coffee a day, so it really does work well.  Plus it gives you that porcelin feeling you get after going to the dentist without the grittiness.

I'm going on 66 years old; been doing that soda and HP 'thing' since my great grandmother taught it to me when I was about 13 years old.  It does work - and it is very inexpensive.

I also use the Colgate brand that (new a few years ago) also helps in keeping teeth a bit whiter.  If you rinse with Hydrogen Peroxide in between the soda treatment, not only do you keep your teeth whiter, but you'll eliminate germs in the mouth as well.  Do NOT gargle with a product (such as Listerine) when you rinse with HP.  Gargle in the a.m. - rinse with the HP at night, so it works while you sleep.

I think it was a good topic too - all a part of health.  Diane