Not All Home Remedies for Teeth Whitening are Safe

By Kim Allarie

A myriad of home teeth whitening techniques exist. Hydrogen peroxide, crushed strawberries, lemon juice, soot, baking soda - but which one is the best? The best teeth whitening method should be the most effective, and the least harmful. Most people consider baking soda to be the safest and most effective of the various home remedies for whiter teeth.

Baking soda, having natural cleaning abilities, is one of the most effective ways to clean and whiten your teeth at home. Simply mix one part baking soda and one part toothpaste. Take two small strips of foil, and press them onto your teeth, to make teeth trays. Deposit your baking soda and toothpaste mixture into the trays. Wear the trays for an hour. Remove the trays. Without rinsing your mouth, brush your teeth thoroughly. If this procedure seems a bit too drastic, mix two tablespoons of baking soda with a glass of water. Rinse your teeth until the glass of water has been used up. Repeat this procedure about three or four times a day.

Another way to get whiter teeth is to brush your teeth regularly with toothpaste that contains hydrogen peroxide. There are a number of toothpastes on the market now that offer a 'whitening' version of the variety that you're used to using. You can also make your own toothpaste for peroxide teeth whitening. All you need to do is mix hydrogen peroxide with baking soda until you form a paste. Brush your teeth with this paste and rinse your mouth out a few times to make sure there is no residue. Make sure that you don't swallow the paste, since these ingredients can be harmful when ingested. For this reason, this solution is not recommended for young children.

The ashes of hardwoods are often used to white teeth as well. This is because the ash contains potassium hydroxide, known colloquially as lye. Lye is a very harsh chemical. It will harm teeth, gums, tongue, lips and skin. Although it may improve the appearance of your teeth, it can lead to poor oral health. This approach is generally not recommended.

You might have heard of using crushed strawberries to whiten teeth. They're certainly not toxic, like peroxide and ashes. However, is it truly advisable to brush one's teeth with a sugary, acidic, and gritty substance? When brushing your teeth with crushed strawberries, you are basically forcing sugar and acid onto your enamel. Sugar will be decomposed by bacteria to produce more acid. The acid will corrode the enamel, leading to cavities. The seeds of the strawberries are also problematic. They are hard, small and sharp. By brushing your teeth with crushed strawberries, you are in essence scratching them with small pebbles. The scratches made in your enamel will only collect more dirt.

Baking soda, compared to these substances, is very safe. It is not the least bit toxic-otherwise, why would we use it to bake cookies? It is also very mild; thus it can be used in larger quantities. Furthermore, baking soda is not only harmless, but beneficial. Bacteria on the teeth frequently produce acid, which corrodes the enamel. Baking soda, on the other hand, is basic. It neutralizes the acid, preventing enamel damage.

Brushing and flossing your teeth is ultimately the key to white teeth. Ideally, you should brush and floss after consuming any food. However, dentists understand that this idea is impossible to meet with a busy lifestyle. Thus, brush twice a day, and try to floss at least once every day, at a time when you do not feel rushed to go onto another task. - 29879

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