How to Naturally Whiten Your Teeth

Having good teeth was always something that my mother stressed when we were young. It's one of those things that she did not have until she was an adult and as kids she wanted us to have. I refused braces, because I didn't think I needed them, but white teeth?! Sign me up. Back in the day we simply used to dunk our tooth brushes into a box of baking soda and call it a day. Now there are so many options, but with my sensitive gums I keep going back to old faithful. In addition to baking soda I've added activated charcoal to the mix. If you want, you can use them separately but I've found that the mix works wonders on my teeth and is a bit less harsh than using baking soda alone.

Activated charcoal helps whiten teeth while promoting good oral health by changing the pH balance in the mouth, helping prevent cavities, bad breath and gum disease. Baking soda has a mild abrasive action that helps to remove plaque and polish, clean, and deodorize your teeth.

I keep my mixture in a round shallow tin can, because it's easy to use. First I wet my toothbrush, place my toothpaste on the brush, and then dip the brush into the mixture. You do not need a ton.

Here are a few tips for using this mixture:

• Only use 3-4 times per week, especially if you have sensitive teeth or gums
• Protect your bathroom surfaces, activated charcoal can be a pain to clean up so be careful
• Floss! The activated charcoal will highlight all the nasty build up on and between your teeth