Do You Know How to Care for Your Teeth Without Store-Bought Products?

When I started doing research on how to make my own household cleaning products, without the industrial chemicals and toxic fumes, I discovered that most ‘green’ cleaning products serve multiple purposes. What’s not to love about that?! Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide are two such products you should keep on hand. We’re going to talk about how they can assist you with dental hygiene.

Toothpaste:

As a child, I remember my Grandfather brushing his teeth with baking soda. When I questioned my Grandmother about it, she said he had always used baking soda and hated the commercial toothpastes because they were too sweet. As a child I couldn’t imagine giving up the sweet-tasting paste, but as an adult I switched to Tom’s brand natural toothpaste and loved the fresh, clean taste it offered. Recently I gave Baking Soda a try and was surprised at how clean my teeth felt afterwards. Baking Soda also neutralizes mouth acids, which can destroy tooth enamel. The FDA recognizes it as safe. I then rinse with Tom’s mint mouthwash to get rid of the rather salty flavor of the baking soda.

Teeth Whiteners:

So now that we know baking soda can be substituted for toothpaste, what about those high priced teeth whiteners on the market? (It’s true that using baking soda to brush your teeth will achieve some whitening as well, but slower.) The best ones are terribly expensive. Have you ever looked at the ingredients? Hydrogen Peroxide and Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) are two common ingredients.

Here’s a simple recipe you can make from ingredients you most likely have around the house (if you don’t, these are essentials you should really stock). Follow the instructions below:

You can use a tiny bit of natural toothpaste to create a base, but it’s not essential. Put it into a small cup and add one teaspoon baking soda, plus one teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide, and half a teaspoon water. Mix well and use this to brush your teeth for two minutes. You can use this once a week, until you have the results you want, and then limit yourself to using the whitening treatment once a month.

Mouthwash:

You can use a 50/50 mixture of Hydrogen Peroxide and water as a mouthwash to kill bacteria and freshen your breath. Make sure you are using the over-the-counter type that is actually only 3% Hydrogen Peroxide and 97% water. Do not use the pure stuff.

Disinfect Your Toothbrush:

I know I’ve already talked about the fact we all tend to store our toothbrushes in the bathroom, but since we’re discussing dental hygiene, I want to mention it again. You can soak your toothbrushes in Hydrogen Peroxide to kill staph bacteria and other germs all too common in the bathroom environment. Good idea!

A Word About Hydrogen Peroxide:

Remember to use the over-the-counter diluted solution (3%) which can be purchased at most food and drug stores. Higher concentrations can be dangerous for skin and lungs. Always exercise caution and be careful not to swallow Hydrogen Peroxide when using orally. This is for external use only!

Have You Ever Tried Using These Ingredients for Dental Care?