Whitening strips are not my favorite things, but I have been known to use them to keep my teeth white. Recently my goal has been to come up with something a whole lot less expensive which basically does the same thing. I think I have landed on a frugal winner!
I was using the Crest toothpaste mentioned above, but not noticing the results I thought I would see. I read somewhere that you could use straight peroxide to whiten your teeth (since that is the main ingredient in whitening strips after all). I started brushing my teeth with the toothpaste and then brushing my teeth with peroxide. However, brushing my teeth twice was something that was getting old fast and I needed a new remedy.
I read a few articles about using peroxide and baking soda together. None of the articles said it was a bad idea so I decided to give it a try. I have been very pleased with the results of how clean my teeth feel and how a good long time after I've brushed my teeth my breath still feels fresh. This is a huge bonus for me since I am one of those people who will run and brush their teeth in order to avoid bad breath. I might be slightly paranoid about bad breath, but I don't consider that a bad thing.
After a little experimentation, and a week of using the experiment, I am now proud to tell you that I have a wonderful homemade whitening toothpaste for you to try! I will warn you: the mix has a really strong salty flavor which will take some getting used to, and you will have an excess of liquid in your mouth so stay close to the sink to spit often. Oh yes, and if you don't like the flavor of peppermint, you can always try a different flavor from the baking section at WalMart. I love peppermint so that's why I chose it for me.
Ingredients
1 Tablespoon Baking Soda
2 teaspoons Hydrogen Peroxide
1 teaspoon Peppermint extract (or another flavor)
You need a PLASTIC container to store the toothpaste in. The mix will erode anything with paint on it!
1. Put the baking soda and peroxide in the container. Add the extract.
2. Stir the ingredients together. It will make a smooth, slightly liquid paste.
To Use
~Dip your toothbrush in the paste and brush your teeth like usual.
~You can also run your toothbrush under the water before dipping it in the paste.
~After you brush your teeth with the paste, brush your teeth and tongue with just water to get all the baking soda off everything.
~Make sure to rinse your mouth out really well to get rid of all the baking soda bits.
Notes
~I tripled this recipe for myself for one week. I still have a good bit left.
~I did notice that if I got the mix on my lips I would have to use Vaseline to keep them from drying out, but this doesn't happen often.
~The plastic container is really important!
~I kept my toothpaste stored in my bathroom cabinet and it seemed to do just fine.
~Read this post written on September 8, 2012 to see the major difference this toothpaste made on my teeth!
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