Everyone is searching for the perfect way to have that perfect smile or so it seems. Regardless of the fact that at-home teeth whitening products are available on the market, there are means by which you can also whiten your teeth at home. For a long time, people striving for whiter teeth have used baking soda. In fact, many types of toothpaste currently contain baking soda as an additive for those needing to remove stubborn stains on their teeth. In order for baking soda to be effective, it must be used properly.

If you are planning to implement baking soda as part of your ritual to a brighter smile, then you should learn how to effectively use this ingredient, without damaging your teeth and gums. First, before you brush your teeth wet your toothbrush and dip it into baking soda. Be sure that your toothbrush is fully covered by the baking soda. Brush your teeth for five minutes.

For best results; this should be done 2-3 times per month. Keep spitting while brushing with the baking soda and rinse only after brushing for five minutes. After this rinse your mouth with clean water. You might experience a tingling effect while brushing with baking soda. This is normal as long as blood is not discharged with your spit. If you notice blood, stop using baking soda and contact your dentist.

Brush your teeth with toothpaste the way you normally do after rinsing your mouth and the toothbrush. If the baking soda taste bothers you, you can also brush your tongue with toothpaste. This will get rid of the taste from your mouth. Alternatively, you can also simply add the baking soda with a little hydrogen peroxide. This whitens teeth more, but do not overdo it since the peroxide tends to also whiten your gums.

Be sure that you only use baking soda two or three times each month. Else, the abrasiveness can cause damage to your tooth enamel. Also be careful to brush softly as you can damage your tooth enamel as well as your gums if you brush too hard. Baking soda has a tendency to dissolve orthodontic glue, hence do not use it if you have braces or a retainer. Using baking soda correctly can result in a much brighter smile after the very first use.

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