My teeth whitening secret

So here are my secrets to whiter and brighter teeth.... 

1. Cheap & easy short term: Hydrogen Peroxide & Hydrogen Peroxide + Baking Soda.
2. Healthier and safer for your teeth long term: Coconut Oil & Baking Soda.

I had been using secret #1 daily for 2 years, and not only were my teeth always pretty white from it but I've never had a cavity. So why doesn't everyone do it? Well here's the scoop.

Hydrogen peroxide can be found at your local drugstore in the brown bottle with the white cap, but most people don't realize it can be used to whiten your teeth. It's safe to use in your mouth (when watered down).. it even says so on the bottle that it can be use as a mouthwash or oral deriding agent. Hydrogen peroxide solution really only contains 3% hydrogen peroxide in it making it safe for your teeth, but I do recommend watering it down before use since it can strip your tooth enamel over time. My dentist did not recommend using it straight (which I used to do for a while and I'm pretty sure it caused increased tooth sensitivity for me) but said it's safe to use if watered down.

Using watered down hydrogen peroxide daily as a mouthwash for 1 minute will gradually and safely bleach your teeth, help clean and heal canker sores, and prevent cavities. (Make sure you DON'T swallow it!). Swish it around enough to effectively coat all your teeth and flow in between every one, disinfecting every square inch of your mouth and removing any food stuck in between your teeth. It should start to foam... foaming is good because that means it's working and killing bacteria.

A majority of teeth whitening products, both professional and from the box kit contain hydrogen peroxide as a top ingredient, essentially doing the exact same thing as the hydrogen peroxide you can purchase from CVS. It's the marketing that will get you. And since hydrogen peroxide isn't advertised as a teeth whitener, many people don't think it's safe or good for your teeth. My dentist always told me while using that my teeth looked cleaner than ever... and this is probably why. For extra whitening, mix hydrogen peroxide with baking soda to form a thick paste... and use this as a toothpaste. Allow the paste to coat your teeth and leave on for 2 minutes. Brush against teeth very well and make sure all teeth are covered. I only recommend doing this only about once a week, because the combination is a stronger bleaching effect and harsher on your teeth. If you need a quick teeth whitener though try this method, results can be seen almost immediately. This is what I used for the weeks leading up to my wedding, and the results had me very pleased.

Anyway, I'm always on a budget and I think at home remedies are always the best. Watered down peroxide is safe and effective, but over time peroxide can definitely heighten tooth sensitivity and possibly erode enamel. Hydrogen peroxide + baking soda is a quick effective method that yields results similar to those fancy over-priced white strips. Here's a photo of my teeth during my peroxide and baking soda regime.

My teeth

Since the posting of this, I have become a natural-o-holic, trying to rid my life of toxins and harmful chemicals. I wouldn't call peroxide toxic, but it is definitely harsh, and after having sensitive teeth for so long I needed to switch to something less intense. I did some research on oil pulling, which has tremendously helped clean my teeth in a more natural way and led me to my method #2. I even make my own toothpaste now with a more natural version of the peroxide and baking soda trick, by mixing coconut oil and baking soda together to form a paste. It's less harsh on your teeth and is safe enough to use twice a day as a regular toothpaste. I do this and my teeth still are just as white. Try swishing around in your mouth for a bit and allow the oil to "pull" out any toxins and harmful bacteria living in your mouth while the baking soda gently abrades your teeth removing plaque and biofilms.

So bottom line? I highly recommend #2 over #1, but when it comes down to it, you gotta do what you gotta do. If you have a wedding or special occasion coming up and need those pearly whites to show themselves in photos, or if you have majorly stained teeth then method #1 is appropriate to use short term, since it's really no more harmful than the crap whitening products you can buy for overpriced amounts of money. If you're going to do it anyway, may as well be smart and save some bucks while you're at it. My recommendation though; avoid staining beverages that can undo all you're doing. Coffee & black tea & sodas as bad news. They will ruin your hard work, so if you're able to, use a straw (try metal straws for warm drinks) to allow the liquid to bypass your teeth.  Try green tea as a healthy caffeine packed alternative and cut out nasty sodas that really are no good for you anyway. You'll thank me later :)