Teeth Whitening With Baking Soda

Many people look to home remedies to make their teeth brighter, such as whitening teeth with baking soda. Baking soda functions as a teeth whitener in two ways. Because of its abrasive nature, baking soda removes built-up plaque on teeth and the alkaline powder in baking soda can help remove discolorations.

While this method can be effective, it will only remove stains on the surface of the teeth. Whitening teeth with baking soda can be done a number of ways. Because baking soda is a base, people often mix it with a more acidic component, such as vinegar, lemon juice or salt.

Some even mix baking soda and strawberries! However, acids can eat away at the calcium of the teeth and irritate gums, so they are generally not recommended. The baking soda can be mixed into a paste by adding water. Once the desired mixture is created, the most effective way to whiten teeth with baking soda is to brush for two minutes, making sure to coat all the teeth with the paste.

While whitening teeth with baking soda has some benefits, it is not a replacement for brushing with regular toothpaste. Baking soda does not kill bacteria and can actual increase cavity formation. That’s why it’s important to follow any baking soda routine by brushing with toothpaste, flossing and rising the mouth out well. Whitening teeth with baking soda is an easy, low-cost option to get teeth a bit brighter.

However, several factors need to be considered when looking at using baking soda to whiten teeth. Although baking soda is a commonly used product, it is not without risks. Overuse can damage the enamel of the teeth, resulting in sensitivity and increasing the risk for cavities. Baking soda should be used no more than once a week. Because this method will not clean any stains beneath the top surface of the enamel, it will only whiten the teeth by 1-2 shades.

Simply pour the H202 gently into each compartment containing a tooth and then close the lid. I like to cover both my teeth and skull containers with a dark towel or make sure that they are kept in a dark room until I am ready to take them out. At the 12 or 24 hour mark, check your skull and teeth.

If the color is to your liking, take the skull out of the solution and rinse thuroughly. Any H202 residue on a skull can show up as chalky white dust once it is dried, so be sure to clean it fully. Hydrogen peroxide's effervescent quality provides some mechanical benefit in loosening any remaining flesh still sticking to parts of your skull, particularly in the nasal cavity, so don't be surprised if you see fleshy bits sloughing off. It is at this point that you should check your skull from snout to brain case.

Make sure all the flesh you want to be gone is gone. If there are still pieces here and there, the Hydrogen peroxide will have softened them enough for you to easily tweeze them out by gently using your tools or by using the faucet on full power. Once the skull is to your satisfaction, let it sit somewhere to dry completely. Some people like to sit their skulls out under the sun, others may simply set them in a warm, dry room.

Hold the lid of your compartment box closed tightly and hold it upside down over the sink so that the Hydrogen peroxide can seep out through the corners but all of the teeth remain in their specific compartments. Once the Hydrogen peroxide is drained out, fill the compartments up with plain tap water, and repeat the process of holding the lid closed and draining out the water. You can repeat this process a few times before individually washing each tooth under the sink to make sure there is no H202 residue or flesh remaining on the tooth roots.

I recommend putting a rubber stopper in the sink just in case you drop a tooth. Once each tooth is cleaned, return it to its respectful compartment and let them all dry completely in the container with the lid open. For my skull projects I use a product called Gorilla Super Glue.

I use it because it is strong, dries quickly, is completely translucent, and comes in a handy applicating bottle. I find that I need to use very little in order for it to bind things securely, whereas with some other glues I've used I found myself needing to reapply coats. I also like the nearly instantanious drying capabilities. However, any translucent super glue should be appropriate for this type of project, do not feel as though Gorilla Super Glue is your only choice of product.

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