This next one I’m going to talk about is an all natural teeth whitener. This includes 2 ingredients: lemon(s) and baking soda.
There are a ton of toxins that can be ingested when whitening teeth. Whether it’s using a home kit or going to the dentist. Home whitening kits warn that the product may irritate gums, and other warnings, but very little is warned about the chemicals that you are absorbing into your system. At the very least, bleaching agents can cause damage to the nerves within the teeth leading to heightened sensitivity. Chemicals in teeth whitening products that may be harmful include coal tars, fluorides, aspartame, aluminum, and benzene. Coal tars can cause really bad allergic reactions, asthma attacks, headaches, nausea, etc. Fluorides may contain lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic. Accumulates in body and contributes to bone disease and are potentially carcinogenic. Benzene can cause tremors and rapid heart rates if ingested in large amounts. Why risk that??
The DIY process is simple. All you have to do is mix several teaspoons of lemon juice (I used real lemons), with several teaspoons of baking soda until you have a consistent paste. Wipe your teeth and any extra saliva off of them with a paper towel to make adhesion of paste easier. Put a good amount of paste onto your toothbrush and apply. Leave the paste on for 1 minute and then rinse to avoid the acid effecting your tooth enamel. Also don’t forget to brush your teeth before or after with the lovely DIY toothpaste Vern has blogged about 🙂
Doing theses DIY’s and learning about other products as well as taking this class has definitively changed my perspective in what I buy and how toxic it really is. I have already and will continue to try to make lifestyle changes to live more sustainable.
