Baking Soda Teeth Whitening

Not many people are blessed with naturally white and bright teeth. Even though the enamel covering the teeth is very resilient, the teeth are not resistant to stains. Discoloration of the teeth, when the color changes from brightly white into not-so-bright yellow, gray or brown, is a process associated with many different factors.

Smoking, drinking coffee, black tea and sodas, certain foods, even some medications, such as tetracycline, are major factors for teeth discoloration. Naturally, everyone wants to have a bright smile and there are several ways to achieve that. Some methods, like bleaching at the dentist’s office, are more expensive than others. There are also whitening strips, special toothpastes and various over-the-counter remedies, but there are also those that are available for everyone and very cheap.

One of them is baking soda. Most of the methods for whitening the teeth usually involve some kind of oxidizing agents. Hydrogen peroxide, for example, oxidizes the stains on the teeth and makes them less visible. Baking soda can be used for the same purpose. This powder is able to reach all the cracks and crevices on the teeth and clean them effectively.

Baking soda also fights the bacteria on and around teeth and helps against plaque too. Considering all this, it is no wonder that baking soda is one of the ingredients in many commercial toothpastes. Those who prefer the do-it-yourself approach can use one of the recipes for whitening the teeth at home, using baking soda. Baking soda can be used in form of a plain powder, mixed with water to make a paste, added to regular toothpaste or mixed with other beneficial ingredients.

One great way to use baking soda for teeth whitening is to combine a very small amount of 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide with baking soda powder, making a thick paste. This paste should be used like normal toothpaste for brushing the teeth. The paste should never be swallowed. Baking soda can also be combined with table salt and some water. This is a very powerful combination for removing stains and discoloration from the teeth.

Those who are looking to solve the problem with bad breath along with stained teeth should try a home-made solution based on baking soda and peppermint. It is made by mixing five teaspoons of baking soda powder with three teaspoons of glycerin and a few drops of peppermint extract or essential oil. The ingredients are mixed well and used for brushing the teeth on daily basis.

Repeat the process as needed or desired. Eventually you will come to a point where all of the major pieces of flesh have been removed, but you may still have some sinewy looking material stuck to places like the nasal cavity, Mandibular condyle, and Auditory bullae. The removal of teeth is an important part of the skull cleaning process. Teeth are fitted inside the bone of a skull through means of Periodontal ligaments, which anchor the tooth root tightly to the jaw of the skull.

During the Simmering Process, most teeth will loosen and many will come out easily or of their own accord (typically the incisors and canines). However, some teeth, like molars and premolars, may be extremely difficult or downright impossible to remove without damaging the skull. The molars found on herbivores such as deer are deeply rooted and tightly packed, and likely will never be coaxed out regardless of how hard you try.

Do your best, but don't force it. I often leave the molars of herbivores rooted in the skull, but with carnivores I make sure to remove all teeth so that I can thoroughly clean everything. Biz solution can be found at most grocery stores in the laundry detergent aisle. It is similar to baking soda or Borax, but entirely different from these; I feel it is an integral part of my skull cleaning process.

It works as a degreasing and conditioning product, and it transforms my skulls into works of art that are smooth to the touch and free from grease. I highly recommend this product, and I cannot guarantee the quality of skulls that are cleaned without it! Many taxidermists may go about this process differently. Fill the pot with enough warm water to cover your skull completely, and then add Biz to it, mixing thoroughly so that there is very little to no powder sediment on the bottom of the pot.

The idea is that you want the soap to dissolve evenly in the water so that the skull will be soaking in a well concentrated mixture. I generally add 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup of Biz per 1 gallon of warm water, but this is not an exact science. The water should simply feel slimy. Gently place the skull parts (you will either have 3 parts - the cranium and left and right mandible - or two parts - the cranium and fused mandibles) into the pot with teeth facing upward.

This will help prevent teeth from slipping out in the soak and you losing them in the murky water. If you are using a water heater, make sure that the heater is not in direct contact with any bone, as it could burn them. Let the skull sit! You may notice an oily film developing on the water surface over time, this is the grease being lifted from the skull. Depending on the skull size and the species, the degreasing process can take anywhere from a day to over a week.

For example, pigs are notorious for being difficult to degrease, and will require more time than a coyote. For very greasy specimens, it is recommended to replace the soap water mixture every other day to prevent any extracted grease from saturating the bone and therefore to prevent the bone from retaining a horrendous smell!

Keep your water clean, warm, and above all, soapy! Any teeth or small bones that fell out during the Simmering Process should remain in the compartment boxes you placed them in. Do not worry about degreasing those items, as they generally do not need it. However, you will include them in the next step. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a simple combination of water and oxygen, and it is used for a great many things both clinical and cosmetic.

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