Tweet Pin It 5 Simple Steps to Whiten Your Teeth

Well, it’s Frugal Friday again and today’s focus is the ol’ choppers.  We’ll talk more next week about a dental hygiene routine (including how to make your own toothpaste), but right now it’s all about the color of the pearly whites.

I’ve never been one of those gals obsessed with the whiteness of my teeth.  Personally I just feel there are more important things going on in the world than being worried about the whitey brightness of the enamel-covered structures in my mouth. 

But that being said, it is important to look your best which includes your teeth.  Take care of them and they will take care of you, just don’t get trapped into that obsessive role of whitening.  There is something to be said for getting your teeth toooooo white…oh, so very unnatural.

A few years back we ditched the mouthwash in lieu of peroxide. One reason was because I love it when something pulls double duty (insert frugal gal happy dance here).  We use peroxide to heal cuts & scrapes, as a carpet cleaner/spot remover and peroxide also replaces bleach in our laundry room.

It's rare that we have a product in this house that performs only one function, so when I found out we could add mouthwash to that list, it was a done deal!  Not only is it a great mouthwash, but it whitens your teeth too!

Here are our 5 Easy Steps to Whiten Your Teeth…

1. Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, which is safe for oral care.
2. Add about 2 tablespoons peroxide and 1 tablespoon water into a cup and mix.
3. Pour the combo in your mouth and swish at least 1 minute – You’ll begin to notice some foaming action going on…there’s no cause for alarm. This is normal.  It’s just the peroxide working on the bacteria.
4. When you’re done swishing, spit out the solution and rinse with water.
5. Now brush as you normally do.

You can play with the hydrogen peroxide/water combo to fit your needs.  When I first started, my daily swish consisted of 2 tablespoons of peroxide and no water, but it was a bit much for me...low gag tolerance + the taste of peroxide = not a good experience.  I then tried a 1:1 ratio, but now prefer a 2 parts peroxide and 1 part water solution.

You can also add a 3 Step Whitening Brush once a week if needed…

1. Mix 2 teaspoons peroxide and 3 teaspoons of baking soda until it creates a paste. The measurements don’t have to be exact.  Just find a consistency you like.
2. Add a small amount to your toothbrush and brush away!
3. Rinse and then brush your teeth as you normally do.

TIPS:

• As with anything, use in moderation.  Do the whitening brush no more than once a week and do not use too much as it will damage enamel.
• This is kinda obvious, but DO NOT swallow or ingest hydrogen peroxide.
• To whiten a specific spot or more problematic area, use a cotton swab soaked in hydrogen peroxide.

Adding these simple steps to your oral care routine will not only have your choppers gleaming in no time flat, but the whole process is kind on the pocketbook too!  We hope you enjoy (;

In Gratitude,


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