Brighten That Smile

Even before oil pulling failed to deliver on its promise for whiter teeth, I looked into various methods for removing tooth discoloration with household items. I have tried a couple. One was easier to execute than the other.

Both of the methods involve Hydrogen Peroxide (3%). A lot of people on the internet seemed to be using it as a mouthwash, which bleaches your teeth and temporarily bleaches a lot of other parts of your mouth. I tried this, only to be stopped short by my gag reflex. It was impossible for me to do for more than a few seconds.

Researching deeper, I found someone who suggested brushing your teeth with Hydrogen Peroxide (3%) and baking soda. By pouring Hydrogen Peroxide and sprinkling baking soda over the bristles of your toothbrush, the application is more focused and direct than the mouthwash method. I have a feeling it's doing something. I took a "before" picture in hopes that I will be able to chronicle progress and ultimately show off results.

My dilemma now is how often I should do this in order to get positive results. Baking soda is pretty abrasive and, used daily, can damage enamel. But if you don't bleach at regular intervals, it's possible that progress will be unbearably slow or altogether stopped.

And so, another experiment begins.