I used Crest Whitening Strips for a long time. Actually, I was kind of nutty about using them. I loved how white they made my teeth…but it all came at the price of constant temperature sensitivity and tooth pain. I tried stepping down to the daily whitening toothpaste-augmenting gels but was disappointed to find that they kind of had the same effects.
So it made sense when I went more natural with my oral care regiment that all those whitening treatments kind of went by the wayside. I was loving making my own toothpaste (or buying this kind
All was good with that. But I drink a lot of teas and I was noticing as the months were going on that my teeth were starting to look a little more stained. This is a natural part of being a human and I’m certainly not here to make a big case for why whitening your teeth is good for you health…but I missed my pearly whites anyways.
My first run in with natural whitening actually was on accident. I started coconut pulling as an oral/inflammatory health intervention to begin with but actually was noticing that this daily practice was helping me lift some of those stains I had acquired on my teeth. I had actually heard of this before (thanks, Pinterest!) but never believed that it would actually work; consider me proven wrong.
Since coconut oil pulling was working out pretty well, I started brain storming other ways I could whiten my teeth naturally without causing tooth sensitivity. After a bit of research, I ended up picking out a few other ingredients to try with the coconut oil that would whiten my teeth gradually–kind of like those whitening gels–without causing pain along the way or totally stripping my teeth.
Long story short: I love this stuff! I use it pretty much every day and it keep my teeth happy and un-stained. I used it more often when I was in the “lightening” process but have switched over to every other day/every few days to keep them as white as I like. My teeth aren’t blinding white…but anyone who’s seen that Friends episode where Ross overdoes it on whitening his teeth will most likely agree that there’s a limit to where it just starts to look weird.
If you like this post and video, make sure to follow my DIY Personal Care Products board on Pinterest! And if you would be so kind, please share this post by using the social media buttons below.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
, melted
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 5 capsules activated charcoal
Note: baking soda can be a bit abrasive for the teeth. If you have very sensitive teeth, you can either decrease the amount of it in the recipe or leave it out entirely. I personally think the coconut oil medium is a better fit for gritty things like activated charcoal and baking soda; I wouldn’t ever use them straight on my teeth.
Steps:
1. Combine your melted coconut oil, baking soda, and activated charcoal into a small glass jar. (I reused an old ghee jar for this.)
2. Stir really well to combine.
3. Let cool.
4. Scoop out a 1/4-1/2 teaspoon serving onto a toothbrush. I reserve a toothbrush just for this purpose.
5. Brush you teeth with this mixture for about 1-2 minutes. I usually do it before actually brushing my teeth with normal toothpaste.
The baking soda is no more abrasive then using a toothbrush! This is a common misconception. However, there are those who feel that brushing is too abrasive for teeth altogether and opt out. This has proven to be true. Oil pulling is a great alternative! I still use ny toothbrush. But baking soda in my toothpaste is the least of my worries!
Is baking soda bad for dental glue? I read that it is but if you have any idea I would appreciate it.
I’ve also heard it isn’t great but I’m not 100% sure on that! Sorry I can’t help you there any more definitively…
Have you ever added any essential oils? I’m curious what this tastes like…I’ve wanted to try oil pulling but it seems unpleasant.
Yes! I like grapefruit and peppermint oils the best 🙂 With coconut oil pulling, I had to start out with a tiny teaspoon because it made me gag a bit but now I got used to it and love it so I’m at about a tablespoon now…but I think the essential oils are a great idea too!
Adding essential oils is a great idea! However, please make sure that you are using oils that are safe for consumption. Many essential oils are great for diffusing purposes, but are not safe to ingest. DoTerra is the best brand for oils, and if you have any questions, feel free to email me at LiveDivocean@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to help!
I have tried so many home remedies for teeth whitening and I have had the same result, sensitivity. I hate not being able to enjoy a cold drink because it hurts my teeth! It has been really frustrating. I am thinking about looking into cosmetic dentistry here in Bowling Green, OH. I will definitely try out your remedy as well, thanks for sharing!
I can’t wait to make this! Just a few ?’s. Does it need to be refrigerated? How long does it last before it spoils? How often should I brush with it?
Thanks!
Did you mention NOT to spit coconut oil down the sink or toilet? It WILL clog the plumming. It’s good to warn people. Love this recipe but I add eo’s and tumeric.
That’s a really good point! I’ll add it in, thanks. Glad you’re enjoying it!
Hi Jennifer, what is eo’s and why and how much tumeric do you add?
Where can you buy the activated charcoal from?
It’s actually everywhere from Walgreens to the Vitamin Shoppe to Whole Foods to Amazon! It most often comes in capsule form that you can twist open 🙂
So they don’t sell it very many places in Canada. And the stuff I did find when I got it home is white not black. Will it work the same? Does anybody know? Thanks
Sorry to hear you’re having a hard time finding it! Hm, I’m not sure but I have a feeling that’s not going to have the same properties, unfortunately. Any place you could order from?
Dental medincine student here, this is a really great post with only one exception! Baking soda is the absolute worst thing you can use to brush your teeth. It scratches away at tooth enamel and like most people know once you loose enamel you can never get it back. By brushing with baling soda you expose the dentin of your teeth making them super sensitive and brittle. Our teeth aren’t like our bones , they don’t heal. I made a similar post a while back using water and activated charcoal but I really like the coconut oil idea!
Thanks for weighing in! I’ve heard a lot of differing opinions on the matter and I’m just wondering what studies/papers you have for this…I would really love to read them! My searches have been unfruitful/contradictory but I’m sure you have better ideas from school. Thanks in advance 🙂 If you try it out with the coconut oil, let me know how it goes for you!
Hey Nicole ! Does dental teeth bleaching procedures also does the same ? Because I did it once and since then I have tooth sensitivity issue. I cannot eat or drink anything hot or cold 🙁
No, I’ve never had tooth sensitivity with this stuff but I definitely did with the bleaching ones!
This is awesome! I am concerned about the black color of activated charcoal. Does that washes away easily?
Yes it does! I was a little concerned about that too at first but it comes off really easily 🙂
Does it have to be a glass jar?
It definitely doesn’t have to be but I prefer glass or ceramic to plastic from a toxin exposure standpoint. But I’ll throw it into a plastic container when I travel so I’m all about doing what goes best with your lifestyle 🙂
I found activated charcoal in a loose, non-capsulated form. How much in volume is 5 capsules? Different capsules hold different volumes. I suppose it doesn’t really matter that much, though, so long as I get the right consistency. Also, any idea if bentonite clay is harmful for tooth enamel like baking soda? I thought that might be an adequate substitute considering its detoxifying capabilities.
I’d say the charcoal is about 1/3-1/2 teaspoon though I haven’t measured it directly. I think bentonite clay would be a fine substitution…though I’ve looked for literature on the baking soda is bad for teeth bit and haven’t ever found great evidence for it. Would love to hear about literature you’ve heard on it!
Do you know what effect the mixture has on capped teeth? Does it stain?
Hm, that’s a good question. I have some dental work and it hasn’t done anything to it but I can’t say with certainty.
I have a capped front tooth, no staining!!
Good to know! Thanks or sharing!
Hi, great post! How long does the mixture last.. is there a ‘use by’ date? Also, the amount you say we should use seems less compared to the pic of the jar?
Thanks! Glad you liked it. I haven’t had any go bad so I can’t say I’ve found a use by date…I’m guessing about 2 months maybe though if I’m being conservative? I had used some up so the picture is a little different but it doesn’t actually matter for how it works 🙂
I gargle 50/50 water and peroxide twice a week after brushing and it helps keep my teeth white. Though I’d love to try your recipe for that smooth after the dentist feeling. Thank you for sharing!
This is so intriguing!! Do you know if this is safe to do while pregnant?
I’m not 100% sure but I’m not aware of anything in this that would not be ok for pregnancy but please ask your health care provider to be certain because that’s not my area of expertise! 🙂
How many times a week do you do this?
I’ll use it everyday for a while to whiten and then I’ll back off to 2-3 times per week to maintain 🙂
I love this, I have been oil pulling forEVER and I use activated charcoal to brush my teeth. What a good pairing. Will certainily try.
Thanls for the info. I’m going to try coconut oil, and the. Charcoal . Can’t use the backing soda. Ill let u know .thanks again .
I’m allergic to coconut is there any thing else I could use to replace it.
Hm, possibly things like mango butter or Shea butter mixed with a liquid oil (sweet almond oil, argan oil, etc) to make it the same consistency? I haven’t tried this myself but seems like it would be quite doable.
Sesame oil is what most people use traditionally, because of its price point and availability. Coconut is sometimes preferred for its anti-bacterial properties.
Hi, how should i store this?
I keep mine in the bathroom and have never had any issues 🙂
How long did it take for you to notice a change in the color of your teeth?
It took a couple uses to see a difference and then it built up over time. Now I just do maintenance.
I have braces. And I use it. And I’ve noticed great improvement. However will it leave my actual color that I had when I got braces when they get removed?? I don’t want to have a stain in the middle of teeth when I take them off..
Glad it’s working so well for you! I’m not entirely sure but I assume that some of the whitening is also happening under everything so I’m sort of doubting that you’ll have entirely different colored feet under the braces. But I’d recommend asking the orthodontist what they recommend for this kind of thing!
How long does it take to cool?
You don’t have to heat it up too much to make it work so it doesn’t take too long…maybe 15-20 minutes for totally cool?
Made it just now, loved it, can already see my teeth are whiter!
Yay! Nice!
Hi Alex ! Love the post I just want to know how do do just coconut pulling? I want to try that first and then move to charcoal.
Awesome! Oil pulling is easy which is great! Just a tablespoon of coconut oil first thing in the morning, swished around for 10-15 minutes and then spit out. You should check out the article up on gingernewtrition.com on oil pulling 🙂
How long does it take to whiten your teeth? Days? Weeks? Months?
It took me a couple weeks to get to where I wanted to be and then I maintain every couple days to stay that way 🙂
Hello
I use a charcoal activating toothpaste I purchase on Amazon. It is in Japanese. It also seems to make your breath fresh.
That sounds great! What’s the name?
Hello,actually in our home country using charcoal is soooo,common but I loved the idea,on how you preserve it and adding the coconut oil.
Thank you for this great pist I tried it for a while and it really works but is sucks that it makes the sink really dirty.. now I made another batch but I didn’t have coconut oil so I used olive oil since its also used for oul pulling and good for teeth and I will spit it in the trash can instead of the sink
Thanks again
Great idea!!