4 Home Remedies to Whiten Teeth

DIY Recipes and Tips for a Bright White Smile

To get whiter teeth, you actually don’t need to buy expensive whitening strips that can also leave your mouth sore and sensitive. Adjusting your dental routine, trying some of these DIY whitening recipes, and adjusting the way you eat certain foods may be all you need for a healthier, pearly white smile on the cheap.    


Proper Brushing: What You Might Not Have Known  
It doesn’t matter how many whitening treatments you apply, if you’re not following proper dental hygiene you’re wasting your time.   

“The recommended brushing time is between 2 to 3 minutes per session with a minimum of two brushing sessions per day,” says Dentist Marielaina Perrone, DDS.  

Family Dentist Mark Burhenne, DDS stresses that proper technique is also necessary so you don’t wear down your enamel. “Brush after meals and use a gentle, small, circular motion while tilting the bristles at a 45 degree angle toward the gum line,” he explains. “And remember that no matter how long you brush, it doesn’t replace flossing.” Do that at least once a day.      


DIY Strawberry Whitening Paste  
Ingredients:
1 strawberry
1/2 teaspoon baking soda  

In a small bowl, mash a strawberry well. Mix in the baking soda. Using a damp toothbrush, brush the mix onto your teeth. Leave on your teeth for five minutes, rinse your mouth and then brush and floss as normal.  

Try doing this twice a week until you achieve your desired results.      


DIY Hydrogen Peroxide + Baking Soda Paste  
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons hydrogen peroxide
2 tablespoons baking soda  

In a small jar or other airtight container, combine the hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Mix them together to form a smooth, thick paste. (You can keep this paste stored in an airtight container for up to two weeks).  

After brushing and flossing your teeth as you normally would, wet your toothbrush and apply a small amount of this paste (cover the bristles). Then brush your teeth for two minutes, avoiding the gums, as this can lighten them as well. Now rinse the toothbrush and brush your teeth with clean water for two more minutes. Rinse your mouth with warm water.  

Do this one to two times per week, until you reach your desired shade. Then reduce usage, and do this only one to three times per month.      


Simple Baking Soda Super-Charge  
This one’s great because it doesn’t require almost any additional effort outside of your normal brushing routine.  

Ingredients:
Toothpaste
Small pinch of baking soda  

Spread toothpaste on your toothbrush. (Bonus trivia: that little swipe of toothpaste on your brush has a name: nurdle. Kind of cute.) Then sprinkle a pinch of baking soda onto the toothpaste and brush your teeth as normal.  

Repeat once per day for about a week and then do only once per week as maintenance.        


Banana Peel Rub  
Ingredients:
Banana peel  

Simply rub the inside of a banana peel all over your teeth for two minutes. Then brush your teeth with your regular toothpaste.  

You can do this everyday until you’re satisfied with the shade of your pearly whites.      

Tricks to Prevent Staining  
In addition to trying these whitening recipes, also take these measures to help prevent teeth staining.  

Things we commonly ingest that stain our teeth: coffee, tea, sodas, wine, acidic foods and beverages, blueberries.  

When possible, try consuming these drinks through a straw so that they bypass your teeth, having less of a chance to stain them. (Blueberries through a straw, you’re wondering? Think smoothies).  

But when straws are out of the question (we know you’d get weird looks drinking wine through a straw), Dr. Burhenne says that you can also reduce the staining effects of these foods by brushing and floss after consuming them.  

Note that if you’ve just had acidic food or drinks, rinse your mouth out with water, but wait an hour or so before brushing your teeth as this could accelerate the wearing down of tooth enamel and staining.  

But if you’ve consumed teeth staining foods or drinks and it’s going to be a long while before you get your hands on a toothbrush, just make sure that you rinse your mouth out with water (swish it around your teeth thoroughly).  

Also, “Eating cheese or sipping water while you enjoy your wine can neutralize the acidic effects of the wine,” says Dr. Burhenne. An excuse to eat more cheese? Yes, please. 

Book your appointment online now at www.montereydayspa.com!

Purchase products from our online store HERE 

Like our Facebook page HERE 

Follow us on Twitter HERE

Visit our website HERE

View our pins on Pinterest HERE

Article source: chixrx.com 

DIY Hair Masks

Get gorgeous hair from using at-home ingredients

There’s nothing like shiny, luscious locks to turn heads, but with blow drying, flat ironing, and color treatments, we’re often left with a head of brittle, lackluster hair.

“Damaged, dull hair can be temporarily repaired through the use of conditioners that mend the damaged hair shaft, increasing shine and smoothing split ends,” ChickRx dermatologist Dr. Debra Price explains.

Because we can’t always splurge on expensive salon conditioning treatments, we’ve compiled five easy DIY hair mask recipes to get you back to envious hair in no time. Even better: you probably have most of the ingredients in your kitchen right now!

Avocado + Egg + Lemon
Combine 1 avocado, 1 egg and a very small amount of lemon juice until mixed well. Apply the mixture to damp hair and leave on for about 20 minutes. Rinse hair with luke warm water—hot water could cook the egg leaving a huge mess! After you’ve rinsed your hair, shampoo and condition as normal.

Honey + Olive Oil + Apple Cider Vinegar
Mix 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar. You may want to heat the honey briefly in the microwave so that is easier to mix in. Apply mask to dry, dirty hair. Comb through with a wide-tooth comb or your fingers. Pin up your hair for 30 minutes to an hour. Shampoo and condition as normal.

Banana + Honey + Yogurt
Mix 1 mashed banana, 1/4 cup honey and about 3 oz of plain yogurt. If you have long hair, you may need to use more yogurt for the recipe to be enough. Coat dry hair with the mixture and leave on for an hour. Rinse and shampoo as normal.

Banana + Egg + Beer + Honey
Mix 1 mashed banana with 1 egg until well blended. Add in 1/2 cup of beer and 1 tablespoon honey. Mix well then apply to hair. Pin hair up (or use a shower cap) and let sit for a few hours. Rinse with luke warm water then shampoo and condition as usual. This mask can be especially helpful if you are looking to add volume and shine to thin hair… and you get to finish off the rest of the beer in that bottle.

If your pantry is looking a little bare, you can also just go with one single ingredient for a quick fix.

Coconut Oil
Apply a liberal amount of coconut to dry hair until strands are coated root to tip and leave in over night. You might want to use a shower cap so you don’t get the coconut oil on your pillow. After catching up on your beauty sleep, shampoo and condition as normal. You may need to shampoo twice, depending on your hair.

Registered dietitian and nutritional expert Carlene Thomas says, “I love using a DIY hair mask with either olive oil, mayo or avocado." She instructs, “Spread over hair and let it soak in and hydrate strands, then rinse and shampoo out.”

Now Protect
After you’ve treated yourself to one of these awesome treatments, be sure to protect your revitalized mane.

“To prevent hair damage during all seasons, you should avoid excessive blow drying, chemical processing, dying or perming your hair,” Dr. Price recommends. “Comb wet hair with a wide bristled comb and try to minimize brushing while blow drying your hair.”

And don’t forget your skin isn’t the only thing that needs protecting from the damaging UV rays of the sun. “If you live in a sunny climate you should consider wearing a hat during periods of prolonged sun exposure to protect your hair,” Dr. Price suggests.

Make sure you’re eating healthy, too. Believe it or not, your diet shows through in your skin and hair probably more than we realize. “Hair can really show our diet quality. If the body isn't getting enough calories, healthy fats, and especially protein, it can become dull and lifeless,” Carlene Thomas advises.

 Book your appointment online now at www.montereydayspa.com!

Purchase products from our online store HERE 

Like our Facebook page HERE 

Follow us on Twitter HERE

Visit our website HERE

View our pins on Pinterest HERE
 

Article source: youbeauty.com