Homemade Teeth Bleaching

You can bleach your teeth at home without expensive kits or products. Homemade teeth bleaching does not produce results as quickly as methods available commercially---a few weeks vs. a few days---but it can produce excellent results. The advantages of homemade teeth bleaching using baking soda or carbamide peroxide gel include: These substances do not cause as much sensitivity as commercial products can; they are readily used on all tooth surfaces; and they do not harm teeth like some other homemade preparations can (lemon or lime juice, for example, can damage your enamel when used regularly for brushing).

Baking Soda

• One of the easiest ways to bleach your teeth is to brush with baking soda. The baking soda provides gentle abrasion to remove stains. You can make a paste from baking soda and water, or you can put some baking soda in the palm of your hand and press your damp toothbrush into your hand to pick up the baking soda. Brush for 2 to 3 minutes, once or twice a day. Baking soda does not contain fluoride to prevent cavities, so if your water does not contain fluoride, use a fluoride toothpaste regularly in addition to brushing with baking soda.

Carbamide Peroxide

• Carbamide peroxide is the active ingredient in many teeth bleaching kits. Ten percent carbamide peroxide gel is available in most stores and sold as a product for oral wound care. An orthodontist named William Klusmier noticed teeth whitening as a side effect of using carbamide peroxide (Gly-Oxide) for oral wound care in the 1960s. Beginning in the 1980s, dentists used custom trays to hold the gel in place against teeth to whiten them. Trays are used for several hours during the day, or overnight. You can purchase teeth bleaching trays for use at home, and you can use the 10 percent gel or purchase a stronger gel online or in stores. The key to whitening is consistent use. If you do not want to purchase trays, use the gel as toothpaste, brushing for at least 2 to 3 minutes twice a day. Again, use a fluoride toothpaste to help prevent cavities.

Maintaining Whiteness

• To maintain whiter teeth, continue brushing with baking soda or carbamide peroxide at least twice weekly. You can also use a whitening toothpaste to help maintain your results, or use a whitening-boosting product that contains peroxide. Using hydrogen peroxide as a mouth rinse will also help keep your teeth whiter. Avoid smoking and drinking beverages that can stain your teeth like tea, coffee, brown colas and red wine.