Get whiter teeth without chemicals or bleach.

Whitening your teeth can be a great addition to your regular beauty routine. Partly because coffee and wine can leave your pearly whites less than pearly, but also because taking care of your smile is a wonderful way to care for your emotional well-being.

If you’re looking for natural alternatives to traditional whitening products, which can create sticky messes and aggravate sensitive teeth, here are the two best ingredients you can use.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is easy to use for teeth whitening. Not to mention, you probably already have some on hand at home. Its mild abrasiveness helps  remove stains from the surface of your teeth.

To use, simply mix 2-3 teaspoons of baking soda with a little bit of water to make a paste. Brush gently onto your teeth and let sit for one minute before rinsing.

Activated Charcoal

In powder form, activated charcoal gives dramatic results from the get-go. You’ll notice a difference after only one use.

Just dip a toothbrush into the powder and brush your teeth for 2-3 minutes before rinsing.

Fun fact: When it’s on your teeth, charcoal powder will totally make you look like a Halloween monster. So after you rinse, you will probably need to brush again to remove any grayish bits left behind. Not a big deal, but you probably don’t want to brush with charcoal right before a first date.

When using them, remember to treat these ingredients as you would toothpaste and avoid ingesting them.

Happy brushing from the Flourish team!

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” — Thich Nhat Hanh

This post has been crafted by the Willow and Sage Team. To learn more, please visit our Who We Are page.