Cosmetic dentistry is expected to be worth £3.3 billion annually by 2023*. Long gone are the days that the British are mocked for their poor oral hygiene and bad teeth. We want that Hollywood smile; we want to teach our children to have it and to look after their teeth. Dental care has become a priority in modern life, leading to increased awareness in dental aesthetics. Having a pristine set of pearly whites is, after all, what everyone sees in that beaming selfie smile you’ve just uploaded to Instagram.
No matter how rigorous our teeth brushing regime, those of us who like a tea or coffee, a glass of red or a can of cola will notice discoloration in our teeth, and paying to have them whitened can become costly. There is, however, a perhaps lesser-known but effective DIY teeth whitening regime you can undertake yourself. With just a few ingredients you probably already have, you can whiten your teeth from home, looking in your bathroom mirror; here’s how.
The step by step guide for whitening your teeth with Baking Soda
Chances are you already have some baking soda, or bicarbonate of soda, in your kitchen cupboard. It is a mild abrasive alkaline, making it perfect for removing stains and plaque on your teeth, and it is incredibly easy to do. Just follow these simple steps for whitening your teeth with baking soda.
- Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with a tablespoon of water in a bowl to become a paste. Be sure to keep the quantities in equal parts.
- Using your fingers or a soft-bristled toothbrush, gently apply the paste to your teeth in gentle circular movements. Cover each tooth and be careful not to push too hard.
- Do this for approximately two minutes, then rinse your mouth and toothbrush thoroughly.
- Repeat two to three times a week for the best results.
Whitening your teeth with baking soda is as simple as that.
Teeth whitening with baking soda can be done two to three times a week for two minutes. It is not recommended that this be a daily treatment as overexposure to baking soda could erode the enamel due to its abrasive nature. You may see the results after the first brush, but the best results are likely to come after a few days to weeks.
Staying safe when teeth whitening with baking soda
Teeth whitening with baking soda is one of the easiest and most popular do it yourself methods for whitening your teeth, and it is easy to see why. Whilst teeth whitening with baking soda is a perfectly safe home treatment, it is important to remember that overuse can result in erosion of tooth enamel. We need our tooth enamel to protect the inner layers of our teeth and once gone it cannot be restored. So be sure you are using the safest practices by following these simple steps;
- Use only a pea-sized amount of the mixture you have made. You don’t need to cover all the bristles on the brush.
- Don’t brush too hard on your teeth. Hold the end of the toothbrush lightly between your fingertips to avoid adding too much pressure when brushing.
- Don’t brush for too long; two minutes is plenty.
- Rinse your mouth (and toothbrush) thoroughly after use with mouthwash or water.
- Don’t confuse baking soda with baking powder. They are not the same thing and will not have the same effect.
- Don’t use the mixture to substitute toothpaste; it does not contain the fluoride we get and need from our toothpaste. You still need to brush your teeth as usual to ensure they are getting maximum protection.
The Benefits
Brushing your teeth with baking soda will not only have that whitening effect you desire but it may also help reduce the build-up of plaque and unwanted bacteria. This, in turn, can help reduce the risk of cavities forming and unwanted trips to the dentist to fill those holes.
It is a very cost-effective treatment. Professional bleaching treatments can cost anything from £150.00 to £700.00. Whereas laser whitening procedures can cost anything from £500.00 to an eye watering £1500.00.
The teeth whitening with baking soda method is also perfect for the time-poor. Professional teeth whitening can take up to 90 minutes a session and require several trips to achieve the look you want, something busy schedules seldom permit. However, we can all spare an extra two minutes brushing our teeth of an evening several times a week.
The Downside
Of course, no home remedy, or professional remedy for that matter, is perfect, and this approach is no exception. One of the biggest complaints when it comes to whitening your teeth with baking soda is the texture. Baking soda is a very fine white sand like powder. Using it to make a paste to brush on your teeth will inevitably feel like you are brushing your teeth with sand. Admittedly, not the most enjoyable sensation. That said there are worse things you have to put up with for 6 – 8 minutes a week.
Whilst the water baking soda combi is one of the safest and cheapest home based teeth whitening solutions, it might not always be the most effective. Yes it will whiten your teeth but it might not be the most dramatic of whitening right away. It may take several attempts, maybe even a week or two to see the results you are after.
Finally the baking soda approach is not always a catch all solution. There may be some stains that are just too stubborn to be removed at home. Baking soda isn’t after all a bleach or laser treatment, it has it’s limitations.
The bottom line.
Despite some minor drawbacks following this step by step guide to teeth whitening with baking soda is a great way to achieve a glowing smile without costing the Earth. It is a quick, simple and effective way to showing off a smile to be proud of without having to leave your house to get it.
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