Baking soda is a key ingredient in the manufacturing of many oral hygiene products. It is in fact an effective inexpensive remedy for whitening teeth, eliminating germs and removing stains from enamel. Try mixing it with your usual toothpaste to increase its effectiveness, or make a paste or exfoliant to help take care of your teeth.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Add Sodium Bicarbonate to a Regular Toothpaste
Step 1. Mix the toothpaste and baking soda
In a small bowl, mix half a teaspoon of baking soda with the amount of toothpaste you usually apply to your toothbrush. Blend them well and apply the mixture to your toothbrush.
Step 2. Brush your teeth thoroughly
Brush them carefully for two minutes, taking care of the entire mouth. Spit out the excess toothpaste and rinse your mouth with water.
Step 3. Buy toothpaste that contains baking soda
Alternatively, buy a product that already contains this ingredient. Since baking soda has been used to clean teeth for more than 150 years and is quite inexpensive, it is found in most toothpastes in different concentrations. Choose a product that has a high concentration of this active ingredient (such as Colgate and Pasta del Capitano).
Method 2 of 4: Make Homemade Toothpaste
Step 1. Mix glycerin, peppermint oil, salt and baking soda
Mix 3 teaspoons of vegetable glycerin and 3 drops of peppermint oil. Add half a teaspoon of salt and 5 teaspoons of baking soda. Mix the ingredients well.
If desired, add larger amounts of peppermint oil
Step 2. Apply the product to your teeth
Coat the bristles of your toothbrush with homemade toothpaste. Brush your teeth for a good two minutes. Rinse well.
Step 3. Store the toothpaste
Buy a squeezable plastic tube or bottle to store homemade toothpaste (such as travel containers). Alternatively, pour it into a jar with a lid. Apply the toothpaste to the toothbrush using a plastic spoon, while avoiding dipping the bristles into the container (otherwise you risk contaminating the product).
Step 4. Make a bentonite clay toothpaste
Bentonite clay and baking soda are the main ingredients of another type of homemade toothpaste. Mix the following ingredients well:
- 90 ml of softened coconut oil (not liquid);
- 45 g of baking soda;
- 1 teaspoon of bentonite clay;
- ½ teaspoon of salt;
- 5-7 drops of peppermint essential oil.
Method 3 of 4: Prepare a Sodium Bicarbonate and Lemon Juice Paste
Step 1. Mix baking soda and lemon juice
Pour 3 tablespoons of baking soda into a small bowl. Add a few drops of juice at a time, mixing until you get a paste. The baking soda has the function of removing superficial stains, while the lemon juice whitens the teeth.
Step 2. Apply the paste
Wipe the saliva off your teeth with a paper towel. Apply a generous amount of paste on dry teeth with the help of a toothbrush and leave it on. Make sure it covers all of your teeth and avoid swallowing it.
Step 3. Let it sit for 1 minute, then rinse
Let the paste rest on your teeth for 1 minute, measuring the time with a cell phone or a stopwatch. Rinse your mouth immediately to prevent the acidity of the lemon juice from damaging your tooth enamel. Make sure you remove the paste completely.
Step 4. As an alternative, replace the lemon juice with water
To make the pasta, use water instead of lemon juice, which is a gentler alternative. Make it the same way, using the same amount of baking soda and liquid. Let it sit for three minutes instead of one: being more delicate and less acidic, the paste will not damage the enamel like lemon juice.
Method 4 of 4: Make a Strawberry Tooth Scrub
Step 1. Mix the ingredients
Place 2 or 3 large strawberries (which help remove plaque and surface stains) in a small bowl, then mash them with a fork. Add a pinch of salt and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Mix it well.
Step 2. Apply the exfoliator
Massage the product onto the toothbrush. Gently apply the mixture all over your teeth, spreading it over the surface without brushing vigorously. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes before rinsing well with water.
Step 3. Try a variation of this quick-to-make exfoliant
If you are in a hurry or are looking for an alternative, apply baking soda to your teeth with the help of a strawberry. Take a large one, cut off the tip and dip it in baking soda. Rub it into your teeth to further fight stains.
Advice
- After performing a baking soda treatment, rinse your mouth with a mouthwash to get rid of the taste.
- Avoid brushing too hard, otherwise you risk damaging your tooth enamel.
- If you wear braces or a permanent retainer, avoid cleaning your teeth with baking soda, as it can cause the orthodontic glue to melt.
