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I’m always looking for the best way to get nice white teeth without using harsh chemicals. In fact, I looked up so many natural solutions for how to whiten teeth at home…. I found everything from what the Ancient Romans used, goat milk and urine, to strawberries mixed with baking soda! I don’t think you want to try the first way and the second was found not to work very well, so I’ll tell you what works the best for me, coconut oil and baking soda.
When I was in college, I used to use whitening strips a few times a year to get my teeth really white. Over 100 million Americans spend money each year on tooth whitening products, but there is an easier, cheaper, and safer way to achieve a white smile.
Even though, I have to admit, the strips did work great, I was always concerned about the harm it was doing to my teeth and body by using the chemically derived whitening strips.
So over the years, I stopped using them and I began experimenting with natural ways to keep my teeth white. After I found out about the health benefits of oil pulling, I soon noticed the wonderful added benefit of whiter teeth from doing it every day! At the same time, I was only using baking soda to brush my teeth and one day when I looked at my pictures I noticed my teeth looked noticeably whiter.
So, if you’re looking for the best answer for how to whiten teeth at home, it’s pretty simple. All you need is coconut oil and baking soda!
Using both coconut oil and baking soda gave me the great results I wanted! All it involves is oil pulling with coconut oil and brushing with baking soda! Not only is this combination great for whitening your teeth, but also for keeping them white!
An added benefit is that the coconut oil helps fight and prevent cavities due to it’s powerful antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
Are chemical whitening strips harmful?
Most chemical tooth whiteners contain ingredients such as coal tar, aluminum and benzene. The scary part is that these chemicals can be absorbed into your body or even accidentally ingested while using them to whiten your teeth.
I remember that I always hated it when I used the white strips and a little of the ‘gel whitener’ would leak from the strip. I didn’t want to swallow for the full 30 minutes I had it on!
Studies have found that roughly 25 percent of tooth whitener chemicals are swallowed. Yikes!
Also of concern is that the chemical whiteners can cause pain, hot/cold sensitivity, chemical burns to the gums, irritation, and increased tooth sensitivity.
Here is how to whiten your teeth at home with no chemicals in just two steps……
How to Whiten Teeth at Home Naturally Without Chemicals:
What you need:
- Coconut oil (I use this kind)
- Baking soda
Step 1
Do oil pulling for 20 to 30 minutes. If you’re not familiar with oil pulling, all you need to do is take 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and swish it in your mouth for at least 20 minutes. While it’s in your mouth you swish and pull the oil between your teeth. When time is up, spit it out and rinse your mouth with water. Read more in my oil pulling post.
Step 2
After you oil pull, rinse your mouth with water. Then, use your toothbrush to gently brush your teeth with pure baking soda. I usually put a little baking soda in my hand and dip my wet toothbrush in the baking soda, so it sticks well.
How does it work:
Many say that their teeth look whiter just after doing oil pulling one time, so when this is combined with the baking soda, you know you’ll get great results!
Oil pulling can help remove plaque and tooth stain. It i s said to help get rid of plaque because of coconut oil’s high content of lauric acid which fights bacteria in your mouth. Some also say it works because the lipids in coconut oil help dissolve fat and since plaque is fat-soluble, it helps get rid of the plaque.
So, when you combine the whitening benefits of oil pulling with baking soda, you get the best results. Baking soda also helps remove plaque and stains. This is because brushing with baking soda gently helps remove surface stains on teeth as it is mildly abrasive.
How often Should you do it:
Do oil pulling 2 times a day, every day and brush with baking soda right after, 3 to 4 times a week to start, and decrease to once a week or once every two weeks after you’ve noticed a whiter smile.
I brush with baking soda after oil pulling once a week or so, just to keep my teeth white.
How White Will Your Teeth Get?
My teeth were noticeably whiter after just one time of oil pulling and immediately brushing with baking soda after. After a few weeks my teeth were definitely shades whiter. And the best part is they’ve remained pretty white! Even despite the fact that I often drink tea.
I would say my teeth are a really good white shade, but they’re not ridiculously super bright white, like I used to make them with the toxic stripes.
If you’ve been trying to figure out how to whiten teeth at home naturally, you have to give this a try! It’s easy to do and it really works.
Would love to hear your results if you’ve tried oil pulling or baking soda together.
my teeths are very yellow I have tried everything here but none of it worked am really confused now what do you think I can still use.
Hmmm..how many days have you been using the oil pulling?
Looking ahead to Try this. My Teeth are Naturally Light Yellow, will it still Work ? Thanks For sharing this Awesome Article for Teeth
Yes, it helps remove stains from teeth.
I actually do oil pulling for 20 minutes, then I brush my teeth with baking soda/coconut oil. The oil pulling Takes out the bacteria, then the oil/soda combination makes my mouth feel like I just came from the dentist.
My dentist & hygienist wanted me to come in every 3 months for cleaning. I started doing the pulling/brushing regimen & nothing more was said about cleaning more often.
That’s fantastic!
Also, you can mix lemon juice in with baking soda and make a paste to brush with. Another great thing with lemon juice is, if you have a stain on anything white and bleach will not take it out, cover area with lemon juice and rub in well. Place the item in the sun and allow to dry. The sun with lemon juice will fade the stain and it will disappear. I tried everything on a stain on an expensive white monogrammed shirt for my daughter that she had gotten rust on from helping her daddy with his truck. Normally I wouldn’t worry about a shirt like I did this one. Why she had on that shirt is beyond me, but that’s what you get when you leave an eight year old home with her daddy. 😉 The lemon juice and sun fixed the problem!! After sitting in the sun I washed the shirt as normal.
I use this only twice a week until the desired whiteness is achieved as the acid in lemon juice can cause sensitivity if used to often. After the desired result is achieved I use only as a maintenance, maybe once every two weeks. As a daily tooth paste, I do the coconut oil and baking soda mix. I have a dental check up twice a year and I have never had a cavity and my dentist said I have strong enamel. He contributes the oral health to practicing good oral hygiene.
Thanks for sharing! I’ll have to try it with the lemon juice.
Does the lemon juice technique work on any colored garment? And do you think it would work on an old wine stain that the dry cleaner couldn’t remove? Of course that happened to one of my favorite skirts & I’ve tried many things to remove the stain to no avail!
YES! The very best stain remover I have EVER used is lemon essentail oil!
Can you please post something on how to remove acne scars my face is ful of scars and I’ve tried a lot of things and it’s not really helping. Please do help me out.
Yes! I want to do a post on it probably next month. I have 4 pretty deep acne scars on my cheeks..I’m not sure if they’re considered ice pick or box car scars and then quite a few smaller scars on my cheeks too. I really want to try to improve them. I have done research on the dermaroller and if you search in pubmed for “microneedling and acne scars” you’ll find studies on it. They have before and after pics too and the results are absolutely amazing!! I tried it last September and October with no results..but just found out I have a high cortisol problem so it inhibits collagen formation. After I get my cortisol issue resolved I’ll be starting the dermarolling again at home. Right now, I am massaging my acne scars with my fingers and hempseed oil for 30 minutes day and night and have seen an improvement, especially in the more recent scars. They’re not as deep anymore.
im confused.. you said to brush with baking soda only once a week? then what should I brux=sh my teeth with everyday?
You can use baking soda mixed with other ingredients as a toothpaste (such as coconut oil, bentonite clay etc.). I just don’t brush with plain baking soda every day.
I have made a mix of coconut oil and baking soda in a small jar with lid and I have added YL essential oils that are beneficial for oral health – cloves/thieves/lavender/peppermint – I only use what are ingestable safe essential oils (Young Living’s). I soften the coconut oil to fill approx 2/3 of the 2oz jar then add baking soda (I use Bob’s Red Mill) until the jar is almost full leaving a gap to allow the toothbrush to fit in- then stir it well, then put lid on and shake it well until it’s blended. Now I add my essential oils to taste (add a few drop and dip your pinky in to taste AFTER you shake the oils all to blend in – this is what I used in my last batch 20drops Thieves, 5drops each of Cloves & Lavender, 2drops Peppermint- then once it’s all blended I place it on an angle (leaving a space so my brush will slide in the jar) in the freezer to harden before it can separate. This is my everyday toothpaste _THEN to whiten even more after getting my brush wet sliding it in the toothpaste I then dip it in turmeric (put in a small container) and brush – BEWARE the turmeric will stain clothes so lean over the sink and be careful when brushing. Even though turmeric turns things yellow it whitens teeth and is also good for oral health. I use turmeric daily for 3-4 days and then whenever I wish. My mouth/teeth feel the cleanest ever when I use turmeric (and brush you tongue every time you brush your teeth – I do that before rinsing my mouth) ENJOY˜! <3
ADDED NOTE: once the mix is hardened I leave it in my bathroom cabinet – if it gets above 70F in the house it softens so you can use it soft or refrigerate it – mine hasn’t separated again but if it does just shake it to blend and chill it. It doesn’t take long to harden in the freezer (30+ min. approx.)
I never though of using turmeric in it, sounds great!
i found it very usefull what u wrote… nd m gonna follow the same.. thanks for sharing… will let u guyz know the result !
what is that thing to add flavour in the paste and does this paste effects the gums in anyway and if dnt do u have any home remedy for making the gums healthy and pink?
I tried oil pulling for a while. I really didn’t notice much difference of anything, except my teeth color. Leave it to MY body, but my teeth did the exact opposite of everyone else — they got more yellow. I have no idea why. I thought maybe if I did it long enough that maybe some it pulled up the yellow, it might then pull it out and get rid of it. Didn’t happen. Boo!! And then I had to use the strips to get them white again. I’m interested in baking soda as a follow up, and would consider trying that again, esp since I’m in a round of using the whitestrips up. Soooo, yeah….