You may have heard about baking soda being used to maintain oral hygiene. Indeed, this is one of the many uses of baking soda around the home. But is it at all effective as a teeth whitener and cleaner? What about brushing teeth with baking soda?
This post will look at how baking soda works and any benefits of using it for your teeth. Next, we’ll talk about its limitations and whether it’s safe to use regularly for brushing.
How Baking Soda Works
Baking soda is the common name for sodium bicarbonate. It’s a fine white powdery substance with a wide variety of applications; it’s used for cooking, leavening in bread and fried foods, as an antacid, and even in fire extinguishers. One of its uses is as a cleaning agent in both industrial applications and personal hygiene.
So how does it work on the teeth? Well, baking soda is crystalline, and its powdered form has abrasive properties. It also acts as an antiseptic and has anti-cavity properties.
Is Brushing Teeth With Baking Soda A Good Idea?
There is evidence to suggest that baking soda can help reduce the number of bacteria in your teeth, which can protect against tooth decay and cavities.
As the mechanical action of brushing your teeth serves as a way to scrub the biofilm of bacteria and plaque away, grains of baking soda abrade and help break the film down.
Interestingly, because of its use as an antacid, baking soda naturally reduces acidic conditions in your mouth. Some bacteria benefit from these conditions, and acidic conditions make it easier to dissolve tooth enamel. So, baking soda increases the pH in your mouth, making it less acidic. This, therefore, makes it less hospitable to these bacteria.
It’s no wonder, then, that baking soda is a popular ingredient in toothpaste available on the market today. The abrasive properties of the substance help it remove stains from the surfaces of the teeth, helping keep your teeth white.
So, should you brush your teeth with just baking soda and ditch the toothpaste? This might be appealing, especially since baking soda is very affordable and available everywhere.
Limitations of Using Baking Soda For Brushing Teeth
The main disadvantage of using baking soda to brush your teeth is that it will deprive your teeth of the benefits of fluoride.
Fluoride is an important ingredient in any good toothpaste and strengthens and mineralizes the hard layer of enamel on the teeth. Keeping it strong is essential, as enamel is not replaceable.
Fluoride, therefore, provides shielding against tooth decay. And who doesn’t want stronger teeth?
That said, if you’re looking for a specifically fluoride-free option, baking soda toothpaste can be a satisfactory option.
Conclusion
We hope this post about baking soda has been informative. Making good choices for your dental health is important, and dentists recommend using a fluoride toothpaste as part of your daily oral hygiene routine for best results. However, a qualified dentist will be able to answer your questions about whether baking soda is right for your individual needs.
Pasadena Dental Doc offers state-of-the-art dental care with fair, transparent prices. We specialize in a wide variety of dental procedures. In addition, we have flexible office hours and accept most insurance plans. For any questions or to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to call us at (713) 947-0293. We’re always willing to help you with your oral health.
BY GARGLE