How To Whiten Your Teeth Naturally

Have you ever wondered how people get their teeth looking so sparkly white? And how they do it naturally? Yes, many go to the dentist and get them whitened or use crest white strips.  These options are NOT your healthiest options because of the mass amounts of chemicals they use in the whitening ingredients, along with the negative health effects. 

Here are a few reasons why you want to stay away from crest white strips:

• The chemicals found in crest white strips can contribute to premature aging and physical deterioration
• They contribute to your "barrel effect"
  
• There are concerns about peroxide contributing to a rising number of early mouth cancers
• The peroxide causes teeth to become more sensitive to cold and hot temperatures
  
• Whitening agents can cause gum irritation
• Redness, soreness, irritation and bleeding of the gums can occur 
• They can damage the enamel on your teeth
  
• Many contain polyethylene which is a human carcinogen and can harm the nervous system
• They are not considered food or drug which means they are not regulated by the FDA which is a huge concern
  
• There is an average of 34 different chemicals found in a whitening strip that dissolves in the mouth
  
• We don't know enough about all of the long term health effects of many of these chemicals and how dangerous they are over time
• The health of your mouth is a visual that can reveal the general health of your entire body, so you need to take care of it and avoid putting mass amounts of toxic chemicals in an area that is sensitive 

There is a natural way you can whiten your teeth and it works like a charm! Let me introduce you to activated charcoal.  I know what you're thinking. Charcoal to whiten your teeth? Not to scare you, but it honestly works and it is 100% safe and way safer than crest whitestrips. You can find activated charcoal at any health food store and most local grocery stores (I picked up the brand innovite health from loblaws).  Both capsule form or powder form works.  This natural remedy can remove stains from teas, nicotine, coffee and dark fruits like berries for example. It removes toxins from the mouth and all sorts of stains.  It even helps with gum disease.

Here's how it works:

1. Get a toothbrush that you don't mind getting dirty and wet it with a bit of water
   
2. Place a piece of paper towel on your bathroom counter (as it can get a bit messy!)
   
3. Gently open the capsule and pour the powder onto the wet toothbrush
   
4. Start the timer
5. Begin brushing with the activated charcoal, your saliva will start to accumulate so don't worry if it's a bit dry at first
   
6. Brush for 8 minutes
   
7. Once the 8 minutes is up, spit the remaining into the sink
   
8. Rinse with water
   
9. Watch your teeth get sparkling white!

Do this for up to 4 weeks.  Once a week until you reach your desired whiteness.

Looking for a great natural whitening toothpaste? I'd love to give a proud shout out to my girl Samantha Gladish from Holistic Wellness who has created the most amazing toothpaste called Salty Kisses. Check out her goods here: www.holisticwellness.ca.  Keep your teeth clean and healthy! 

Happy brushing!
Stephanie xo