Baking Soda and Lemon
Juice Paste
Baking Soda isn’t a shocker here. Sodium
bicarbonate (its official name) is mildly abrasive; gently scrubbing away
surface stains to return teeth to a whiter shade. It’s also very alkaline (the
opposite of acidic) so I would think if you have a very acidic mouth or eat a
lot of acidic food, it could help balance out the Ph, which would be useful as
acid breaks down enamel-this is strictly speculation on my part.
It will also
reduce the acidity of the lemon juice, which acts as a
natural bleach of sorts. I use a mixture of baking soda and water on some days,
and use the lemon juice on others, as I don’t want to overdo it.
Strawberry, Salt and
Baking Soda Scrub
Strawberries are high in Vitamin C, which can
help break-down plaque that is causing your teeth to look yellow. It also has
an enzyme called malic acid, which may help to remove surface stains. The salt
acts as an abrasive portion of the paste, physically scrubbing away stain-causing
gunk, and the baking soda is an extra touch that you can choose to leave out if
you’d prefer (I just like to add it to anything involving my teeth.)
I know this sounds absolutely mad (I thought it
was crazy too when I first read about it) but rinsing your mouth with coconut
oil (called ‘oil pulling’) is a unique, old, remedy that people swear by to
help whiten teeth. It doesn’t sound like the most pleasant thing in the world,
but I actually don’t mind the taste, and I think it does make a difference
in the color of your teeth. It won’t make a difference by “bleaching” per say,
but lauric acid in coconut oil can rid your teeth of bacteria found in plaque
that can make them yellow. It is also supposed to promote gum health, and help
keep your breath fresh.
