How to Make a Natural Tooth-Whitening Powder

It can be hard to achieve that perfect, white smile by using over-the-counter creams or toothpastes, and getting a whitening treatment from the dentist can be very expensive.

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There is a way to brighten your smile by using non-toxic, natural ingredients, so read on to find out exactly how.

What You’ll Need

4 tablespoons bentonite clay

3 tablespoons calcium carbonate powder

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 tablespoon or more of stevia

A few drops of peppermint or spearmint essential oil

Bentonite Clay

Bentonite clay is a natural, gentle cleaner, rich in minerals that can help remineralize teeth. Your teeth become demineralized by constant exposure of your tooth enamel to acids from the build-up of bacterial plaque.

Bentonite clay has detoxifying qualities that reduce the level of mouth bacteria, freshens breath and helps fight gum disease.

Calcium Carbonate

This mineral is found in chalk, limestone and marble, and it helps to polish and restore brightness to teeth. The gentle abrasive action of the mineral helps to remove stains without harming tooth enamel.

Calcium carbonate can also help remineralize teeth by providing calcium.

Baking Soda

Baking soda has long been added to toothpastes to give extra whitening power. It works as a mild abrasive to gently remove plaque, and also helps to reduce mouth bacteria.

Baking soda may not work on old tooth discoloration, where the stain is deeply ingrained in the enamel.

Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint essential oil is very effective against bad breath, and it does this by targeting the specific bacteria that causes bad breath and gum disease.

How to Make Tooth Whitening Powder

1. Put the 4 tablespoons of bentonite clay in a 4 oz glass jar, using a non-metal spoon. (This is because the metals from the spoon can leach into the clay). If you have to use a metal spoon, use a stainless steel one, as it has a minimal effect on the clay.

2. Add two tablespoons of calcium carbonate powder to the clay.

3. Add one tablespoon of baking soda.

4. Add a tablespoon of stevia (optional) and mix well.

5. Add a few drops of peppermint or spearmint essential oil, and mix well.

6. Add a little of the mixture to a wet toothbrush, and brush as normal.

Other Ways to Whiten Teeth at Home

1. Oil Pulling

Coconut oil has been used since ancient times for a practice known as “oil pulling”. Swish a tablespoon of coconut oil around your mouth for 20 minutes each day to eradicate harmful bacteria and give teeth and gums a deep clean.

Anecdotal evidence claims that doing this daily will help brighten teeth and restore their whiteness.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

This vinegar has a bleaching effect on the teeth, and also has antibacterial properties. Research also shows that lengthy, continued exposure to apple cider vinegar may soften teeth, so limit it to once per week. Swish it around your mouth for around two minutes before rinsing and brushing well.

3. Strawberries

There are claims that the malic acid in strawberries can reduce the appearance of surface tooth staining. Mashing a strawberry up with baking soda and applying it could give whiter teeth, but limit the use of this remedy to no more than 1-2 times a week, to avoid damaging enamel.

4. Avoid Drinks That Stain

Soda, red wine, tea and coffee can all stain your teeth, so it can be wise to limit them. You can also try drinking through a straw and brushing your teeth directly afterwards.

5. Hydrogen Peroxide

The disinfecting power of hydrogen peroxide can be used to reduce harmful mouth bacteria and bleach teeth without using harsher chemicals.

Use a diluted concentration of around 1.5 to 3 percent as a mouthwash before brushing teeth. Rinse thoroughly and use only around once a week to avoid enamel damage.

6. Brush and Floss

Make a habit of brushing and flossing regularly, as this is the most effective way to limit staining and food buildup. Flossing helps encourage healthy gums, and also removes bacteria, while brushing polishes teeth and can combat bad breath.