How to Bleach and Brighten your Smile with Lemon and Baking Soda
Smile bright- the cheap way!
Having a great smile is one of the quickest ways to make a person seem more attractive. Part of having what is considered a great smile is having pearly white teeth. Having your teeth professionally bleached can be very expensive, and while a lot of cheaper options, such as whitening strips and trays promise similar results, they are more often than not a waste of time and a lot more hassle than they're worth. I personally swear by a method that costs me less than 25 cents a treatment.
This simple and cheap teeth whitening method requires only two ingredients, both of which you can get for dirt cheap at your local grocery or supermarket. All you need is a lemon, and a box of baking soda!
How To Do It
Grab a saucer (or a bowl, or whatever you have on hand) and sprinkle some baking soda into it. Squeeze half of your lemon onto the baking soda, and stir until you make a thick paste. If you find that your homemade tooth paste is too thin, add more baking soda.
You will notice that the mixture fizzes. This is perfectly normal. The lemon is very acidic, and the baking soda is a base, meaning that when they are mixed together, the baking soda works to neutralize the lemon juice.
When you have a nice thick paste, gather it on your toothbrush, and scrub away until all of the paste you have made is gone. (You can't keep the leftovers, anyway. The paste is only good as long as the chemical reaction is taking place.) You should notice instant results.
Important Considerations
Do not use this method more than once a week. While it may be tempting, because of the results you are getting, this method is not to be repeated with frequency, as the acidic lemon will strip the enamel of your teeth, which could lead to very sensitive teeth and discoloration.
Your gums may be a little sore after you brush. This is perfectly normal and is nothing to be too concerned about. It should stop in a couple of minutes. However, as with anything, if the condition persists, stop using the method and contact your doctor or dentist.
It's important to use a fresh lemon, and not juice from concentrate or "reconstituted" lemon juice. A lot of these versions of lemon juice contain a lot of sugar, which is not good for teeth.
Do not bleach your teeth if you have on braces, or if you have any orthodontic devices in your mouth. as doing so could loosen the glue, leading to much more expensive problems.
