Easy Natural Beauty

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Tooth whitening seems to have become a national obsession. I’m not sure if this is a result of the national obsession with looking younger or the national obsession with drinking coffee and cola, but . . . it’s everywhere.



Well, I admit it: I LOVE coffee and drink a lot more of it than I should. Ditto for colas. So, I understand the need for/fixation with keeping your teeth white, but I’m not too crazy about some of the commercial tooth-whitening products. I’ve seen whitening rinses with warnings about the dangers of swallowing them! Come on, you’re using them in your mouth. There’s a risk – a pretty big risk — that you could swallow them.



And the only time I’ve used a commercial tooth whitener, I developed what is euphemistically called “sensitivity.” If you’ve experienced the feeling, you probably have a few much stronger words for it.



So, is there anything you can do if you want to whiten your teeth naturally and safely? Would I have brought it up if there weren’t? Here are a few recipes to help reduce discoloration, control tartar, remove plaque, keep your gums healthy, and make you smile.



Recipe #1

• 3 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt

Mix the baking soda and salt together, apply to toothbrush, and brush as usual.



Recipe #2

• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 3-5 drops hydrogen peroxide, 3%
• 1 or 2 drops mint mouth wash

Mix all ingredients into a paste, apply to a toothbrush, and brush teeth.



Tip #1

Baking soda used on its own as a toothpaste will help keep your teeth white, too.



Recipe #3

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon salt

Mix the ingredients into a paste and apply to your teeth. Leave on a few minutes, then rinse.



Recipe #4

• Dry, powdered bay leaves
• A dried-out orange peel

Put the powdered bay leaves on the white side of the orange peel and gently rub your teeth.



Tip #2

Try just rubbing your teeth with the inside of an orange peel.



Tip #3

Chew raw spinach.



There you go. Recipes don’t get much easier than these and tooth whitening doesn’t get much less complicated and inexpensive. As always, I’d love to hear how these recipes work for you.