Get a "natural" white smile!

I’ve always been drawn to an attractive smile. I don’t want to sound vain but I look at people’s teeth and their smile. It’s probably because I had horribly crooked teeth until high school. I remember dreaming about my teeth being perfect and excited to get braces. Now that my teeth are straight (almost, I have a crooked eye tooth on the bottom) I look at how white someone’s teeth are. It’s just me. I actually used to use over the counter whiteners because I wanted my teeth to look crayon white, like the stars on television. I realized how this wasn’t exactly “natural” and that there could be some risks involved so I stopped. Now my teeth are a little bit yellow…not a lot…but enough to make me contemplate a run to the drug store.

This sent me on a research mission for a natural way to whiten my teeth! Phew, I found a yummy option (wipe brow with hand)! Strawberries and baking soda…go figure! According to this great article online from, Health.com, the strawberry secret is, “malic acid, which acts as an astringent to remove surface discoloration.” Add baking soda and you have a natural buffer for the shine! Health.com, offered the following recipe:

You need:

1 ripe strawberry

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

You just crush it all together and use your toothbrush to spread it on your teeth (has to taste better than the white strips). Health.com, recommends leaving it on for five minutes and then brushing with, hopefully, your all natural toothpaste! You have to be careful to not do this too often, the baking soda can hurt your enamel and the strawberry does have natural sugar that can cause cavities.

I did try this and it wasn’t too bad. I haven’t noticed a big difference but I’ll do it a few times over the next month and hopefully I’ll be pearly white again. I do recommend flossing because of the seeds!!!