Baking soda is a natural and cost-effective alternative to commercial toothpastes.
Baking soda toothpaste can provide a number of benefits, including whitening and stain removal, acid neutralization and plaque removal, fresher breath, and a deeper clean. There is also sometimes a reduction in gum irritation and pain, and people generally like the fact that it is extremely light in terms of abrasiveness. Sometimes people also manage to avoid unwanted chemicals and save money.
Whitening and stain removal
Many commercially available toothpastes contain baking soda.
Baking soda or baking soda can whiten teeth in two ways. On a physical level, it is a mild abrasive that literally scrapes away the particles that make teeth look stained or yellow from tooth enamel. Chemically, when dissolved in water, it releases free radicals, which penetrate the enamel and react on the molecules that make up the stain, breaking them down. The result is cleaner, whiter teeth.
acid neutralization
Some people use baking soda toothpaste in an attempt to get whiter teeth.
While strong acids and bases can be harmful, dentists often focus on acids to keep teeth healthy because bacteria in the mouth break down sugars in foods into acids that, if not neutralized, can damage enamel and cause cavities or cavities. . Baking soda is a weak base, so it can neutralize these acids produced by bacteria, as well as those already present in the foods and drinks that people consume. This does not strengthen the enamel, but it can prevent it from deteriorating, maintaining good dental function without pain.
plaque removal
Baking soda helps remove stains and whiten teeth.
Plaque is essentially a sticky colony of thousands of bacteria trying to stick to your teeth. These bacteria convert sugars in food into corrosive acids, so getting rid of them is key to preventing cavities and other forms of decay. The moderate abrasiveness of baking soda toothpaste allows you to mechanically remove these accumulated bacteria from the enamel.
fresh breath
Baking soda can help neutralize acids and remove plaque from teeth.
With the acids neutralized and the bacteria controlled by removing plaque, people who use baking soda toothpaste often report fresher breath. In some cases, this can have far-reaching implications for social interactions. Some people feel more secure when they don’t have to worry about an unpleasant mouth odor, so they are more willing to walk up and talk to people. Also, with the source of the odor greatly reduced, they often find that they can use other breath fresheners, such as mints or gum, less often.
deeper cleaning
Most products designed to clean teeth contain hydrated silica, a mild, non-toxic abrasive that contributes to the gel-like consistency that toothpastes often have. Not to be confused with its toxic cousin, crystalline silica, it works similarly to baking soda in that it mechanically cleans teeth. However, the particles are larger than baking soda, which means baking soda is better at getting into cracks and crevices. This is important because it is in these places that bacteria usually breed and convert sugar into harmful acids.
Less gum irritation
Bacteria and acids contribute to gum irritation. A baking soda toothpaste keeps these elements in check, and as a result, the inflammation and redness often go away. In fact, some dentists specifically recommend using these types of products or home remedies as a treatment for gum disease. The reduction in pain sometimes means that people find it easier to eat and that eating food becomes more pleasurable.
Free radicals produced when baking soda and water mix can penetrate the enamel surface and over time weaken it. For this reason, experts don’t recommend using baking soda more than once or twice a week. Still, compared to other abrasive agents used in toothpastes, it is extremely gentle in terms of actual scraping. It has the lowest rating, 7, of all substances measured on the relative dental abrasiveness scale. Most mainstream commercial products don’t go much lower than 35, with some, such as Colgate® 2-in-1 Tartar Control Whitening Toothpaste or Icy Blast/Whitening Toothpaste, reaching the Food and Drug Administration’s recommended limit of 200. US Drug Administration
Chemical Prevention
Commercial toothpastes often contain a wide range of different substances, whether or not they contain baking soda. Some of these have not been studied thoroughly enough to determine all of their potential benefits and side effects, with technical classifications sometimes allowing manufacturers to avoid regulation. People who don’t want to risk harming their health with these chemicals can use a homemade toothpaste with baking soda if they wish.
Saving money
At most retailers, the box or other container of baking soda is relatively inexpensive. When people make their own toothpaste at home using it, the cost per brushing session is often less than it would be using a commercial version. However, adding other ingredients to make the mixture have a better consistency or flavor can add to the expense.