You have the perfect outfit. Dinner reservations have been made—you even know what you’re going to order. Everything is going to go perfectly on your big date…until you take one last glance in the mirror.
Oh no! Your teeth! Have they always been that shade?
They definitely look a little more yellow than the last time you checked…have you been slacking on your oral hygiene habits? Or maybe that extra cup of coffee in the morning is finally taking its toll.
Either way, your teeth definitely do not look first-date-ready.
But don’t panic! Even if you have to leave in a few minutes, there are effective DIY teeth whitening treatments that you can try at home to give your smile a last minute polish.
1. Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda Paste
This is probably the recipe that your grandmother used for her teeth when she and grandpa went out on their first date. As one of the oldest, tried-and-true methods for last minute teeth whitening, you can count on making your pearly-whites look a bit more pearly with this recipe.
It’s easy to make. Simply add two to three drops of hydrogen peroxide to a few teaspoons of baking soda and mix until it resembles a sort of chalky paste. Dip a wet toothbrush into the mixture and brush like normal until you see some of those coffee stains go away. Rinse.
And that’s it!
It doesn’t taste very good, but that’s a small price to pay for a date-ready smile. You can use the paste for three to five days, but call it quits for about six months after that. Because hydrogen peroxide and baking soda are both abrasive, you could do a number on your enamel if you use that too often.
2. Strawberry Scrub
Yes, you read that right.
You can use strawberries to whiten and brighten your teeth? How?
Strawberries are full of malic acid, which is awesome for dissolving coffee, red wine, soda, and tea stains on your enamel. Mash up a few strawberries in a bowl and add a teaspoon of baking soda to the tasty mixture.
If you use a children’s toothbrush, you’ll be able to get between your teeth a bit better, but if you don’t have one, your regular toothbrush will do.
Scrub this across your teeth for about five minutes, rinse, and then floss out any of those pesky seeds that could get stuck between your teeth. Your smile should look a few shades whiter and brighter after that, all thanks to the malic acid and baking soda magic.
But be careful! Like we said earlier using this too often could harm your teeth because of the acids in the mixture. Try to brush with fluoridated toothpaste every day and save the strawberry scrub for emergencies only.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
I know what you’re thinking: What’s with all the fruit?
Fruits and fruit products are chock full of natural acids and vitamins, many of which have stain-busting power that the best toothpaste brands wish they could harness.
Apple cider vinegar is a great component to add to your whitening routine because it’s full of abrasives that can attack and break down those noticeable stains. Dilute the vinegar with a ratio of three parts water and one part vinegar. Mix it in with your toothpaste, and then brush as usual.
Once again, don’t do this as part of your daily routine, because apple cider vinegar is highly acidic.
4. Charcoal Paste
Charcoal? Won’t that make my teeth black and scary?
Yes, it will…but only while you’re brushing. Charcoal is actually a great material for whitening and brightening dull teeth. Because it’s such a porous substance, the granules are excellent at binding to bacteria and pulling stains away from enamel.
A lot of stores and manufacturers sell charcoal toothpaste now, but you can make some yourself if you’re in a rush. Use activated charcoal by mixing a small chunk with water, and then gently apply it to all the surfaces of teeth. Leave the mixture in place for two minutes and finish by rinsing thoroughly until all the charcoal is gone.
You’ll be amazed at how much whiter your teeth look—they’ll definitely be ready to dazzle your date with their sparkle and shine.
Professional Dental Care at Perio NYC
You’re out of the woods this time, but unfortunately, most dental procedures don’t (and shouldn’t) have DIY options like this. Your smile says a lot about you—it communicates confidence, health, and success. So if you’re in need of more complex treatments to fix your gummy smile, periodontal disease, or a missing tooth, let us know. We can help you out.
