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Baking soda for teeth is said to be a miracle cure for many teeth-related issues. But what percentage of brushing with baking soda is effective? Are there any other benefits or disadvantages of baking soda for teeth? Read on to find out!
This article discusses the scope of baking soda for teeth and its benefits, along with how to use it properly without causing harm to your pearly whites.
Baking Soda or Powder?
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a chemical substance.
Very often, people confuse baking soda with baking powder and carry out the whole process with baking powder and then do not get the desired results of baking soda for teeth.
Well, let me clear this up – Baking soda and baking powder are two entirely different things. Even though both are sodium bicarbonate, baking powder already has an acid in it and needs just a liquid for its activation.
In contrast, baking soda needs both an acid and a liquid for activation.
You may get the desired results by using baking powder. But baking soda for teeth proves to be even more effective and should be used.
Benefits of Baking Soda for Teeth
There are many benefits of baking soda for teeth. Baking soda is also added to many kinds of toothpaste as well. Teeth whitening with baking soda is the most sought-after benefit. Our teeth’ enamel starts to lose its natural white colour due to plaque formation.
Plaque is formed due to the mixture of saliva, food, fluids, and bacteria. Due to plaque formation, the teeth start to turn yellowish or look stained. Other causes of teeth stains are coffee-tea, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
Due to these things, the enamel gets stripped off of its natural white colour and starts to stain. This is where baking soda for teeth comes in for removing stains.
The alkalinity of baking soda, along with its mild abrasive nature, helps in getting rid of plaque and helps in whitening your teeth.
Why Baking Soda?
Many people wish to have whiter teeth. Getting your teeth whitened by a dentist or buying teeth whitening products can be costly at times, and therefore people look forward to home remedy techniques to achieve their desired results.
And the best DIY for whitening teeth is using baking soda. Baking soda is a quick and trusted remedy and is cost-effective, and is easily available in shops.
You can use many other ingredients along with baking soda that would help you achieve an even more beautiful smile. The best part is, all of them are easy to make and use.
So below are a few DIY pastes with extra ingredients to use along with brushing your teeth with baking soda.
DIY Pastes with Baking Soda for Teeth Whitening
1) Water With Baking Soda for Teeth
The classic mixture to get brighter teeth. Mix equal parts baking soda and water in a bowl, the consistency of the past should not be too drippy. You could use your brush to apply to your teeth, or you could use your fingers as well.
Using a brush can be beneficial as the bristles would help reach the nooks and crannies of your teeth. Do not over-rub this paste on your teeth, even with your fingers. Keep this paste for approximately two minutes before washing it off.
2) Hydrogen Peroxide With Baking Soda
Another effective tooth-whitening paste is a mixture of hydrogen peroxide with baking soda. Make sure to use household hydrogen peroxide. Using a three percent solution of hydrogen peroxide would be recommended for safety.
Take one teaspoon of baking soda along with a half teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide. Mix them well in a bowl to form a paste-like consistency. Using this mixture, gently brush your teeth for a minute. Keep this mixture on for another minute and wash it off thoroughly.
Try not to gulp anything, and make sure to spit out the paste properly. Gargle your mouth with water two to three times.
3) Lemon Juice With Baking Soda
Lemon juice is known as a natural bleaching agent because of the presence of citric acid. Mix it with baking soda, and you get the perfect teeth-whitening substance. Use half a teaspoon of lemon or even lime juice and half a teaspoon of baking soda.
Mix it well in a bowl until proper consistency is attained. Brush your teeth with this mixture gently and let it sit for a minute then wash off properly.
Avoid using this mixture very frequently, as the citric acid in limes and lemons has proven to deteriorate the tooth’s enamel health due to overuse.
4) Toothpaste with Baking Soda
You could also use your regular toothpaste with baking soda for teeth whitening. Mix a small amount of baking soda into your toothpaste and brush.
Again, make sure you don’t brush vigorously, as it may irritate your gums. There are also many readymade brands of toothpaste with baking soda as an ingredient in them.
You could opt for those as they contain the proper amount of baking soda for use and can also be used daily without causing much harm.
5) Apple Cider Vinegar with Baking Soda for Teeth
Apple cider vinegar itself is a great tooth-whitening agent. Using it with baking soda can amp up its effectiveness. Take two parts of diluted apple cider vinegar and one part of baking soda. Mix in a bowl for desired consistency and apply.
You can either apply this paste and let it rest, or you could brush for a minute and then let it rest and then wash it off. Use this paste a few times a week for better results.
You could also use only apple cider vinegar as a mouthwash after your oral care routine.
6) Turmeric with Baking Soda for Teeth
Turmeric has always been a super ingredient in the Indian household. So why not use it for teeth whitening as well?
Use a half teaspoon of turmeric powder with one teaspoon of baking soda and one teaspoon of coconut oil (optional). Mix the ingredients in the bowl to make a golden paste.
Dip your brush or use your fingers to apply this paste to your teeth. Don’t keep this paste for much longer, as turmeric has the quality to give a yellow tint to things. Keep it for just a minute and rinse.
You could also use one-fourth part of L-arginine for even better results.
7) Coconut Oil with Baking Soda
The best part about this DIY teeth whitening paste is that it is 100% natural and inexpensive to get that bright smile.
Coconut oil contains certain fatty acids like lauric acid, which helps prevent tooth decay and brighten your teeth. Coconut oil is also helpful for healing wounds and inflammation if you have gingivitis or any cuts on your gums.
You could swish a bit of coconut oil after you brush for it to work as an antibacterial for your mouth.
Mix one teaspoon of coconut oil with a half teaspoon of baking soda and two-three drops of spearmint for a minty flavour. Try using cold-pressed coconut oil for the best results. Brush with this paste and leave it on for 2-3 minutes. Wash off.
8) Strawberries with Baking Soda for Teeth
Strawberries contain ascorbic acid that serves as a tooth-whitening agent and helps eliminate food stains from the teeth.
Take 2-3 strawberries and mash them in a bowl. Take one teaspoon of baking soda and half a teaspoon of salt. Mix it with the mashed strawberries to form a paste.
Brush your teeth with this paste for at least 3 minutes, and then rinse off. Use this paste once or twice a week.
How Long After Do You Get to See the Results?
The results of teeth whitening depend on what teeth scrub you use. Most of the time, you start seeing small results after the second or third week.
Make sure you do not overuse baking soda for teeth as it can be harmful. Using it a couple of times every week is more than enough.
Closing Thoughts
Everything has a side effect when overused, the same is the case while using baking soda.
Your teeth getting very frequently exposed to baking soda can cause damage to their enamel. The enamel is the outer surface of your teeth, which protects the nerves and blood vessels.
Damaged enamel leads to heat and cold-sensitive teeth, so it would even make brushing your teeth very painful. Furthermore, damaged enamel can increase the risk of tooth decay and cavities as well.
But that doesn’t mean that you should not try it out at all. Including these techniques in your oral hygiene routine properly will give you excellent results.
Just like everything should be done in moderation to gain benefits, the same applies while using baking soda for teeth. Use it and enjoy flashing your bright and white smile with confidence.
Proofreaded by:
Dr. Foram Bhuta
Dentist (B.D.S)
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
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