4 ways of brushing teeth with baking soda – pros and cons

Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is a common ingredients used in the kitchen. This simple compound is an integral part of cooking, baking and and other household chores. But, along with that, baking soda is widely used as a teeth whitener. Baking soda is found quite effective in removing the plaque formed on teeth from having tea, coffee or red wine, hence making the teeth clean and white. Due to it’s such an effectiveness, baking soda is now used as one of the primary ingredients by many toothpaste brands. But, that’s not the whole story. Questions about safety regarding baking soda for brushing teeth are still prevalent. In this article, we have got you covered as we’ll be discussing 4 ways of brushing teeth with baking soda, it’s pros and cons and all other doubts regarding it’s use.

Is baking soda effective in cleaning teeth?

The answer to this question is simply yes. Baking soda is proved very working in cleaning teeth. The acidic content of stains on teeth is easily wiped away due to alkaline and salty nature of baking soda. No doubt, it is used in many toothpastes. While merely baking soda might not be as effective as toothpaste containing fluoride in fighting against cavities, baking soda is still good if for cleaning and whitening teeth.

Baking soda toothpaste has many antibacterial properties that will make your teeth get cleaner and brighter after brushing. Teeth that were covered with tartar before brushing with baking soda will be shining white after a proper brushing. Even, baking soda toothpastes are observed to show better results in teeth cleaning that non baking soda toothpastes.

How to use baking soda for brushing teeth?

With such a effectiveness of baking soda, if you are also looking for the ways to use baking soda, here are 4 simple ways of brushing teeth with baking soda to get an amazing smile :-

Water and baking soda

The most convenient way of brushing teeth with using baking soda is to mix it with water. All you need is baking soda, water and a small bowl or shot glass for mixing them both. Mix equal parts of baking soda and water (roughly about one tablespoon) in the glass that will result into a thick paste. Apply this paste directly on your teeth with your fingers or a toothbrush. For two minutes, brush the paste in circular motions over the teeth and be sure to cover every teeth. Rinse your mouth after two minutes with water or mouthwash. Rinse more if you feel teeth feel gritty.

Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda

Another way for brushing teeth with baking soda is to use hydrogen peroxide. You can substitute water with hydrogen peroxide in the above method for a much better cleaning. Don’t worry about the bubbles that form while mixing both the ingredients. Follow the process stated above. But, instead of two minutes, rinse your mouth after one minute of brushing. It is advised to consult a dentist before you use this method for cleaning your teeth.

Baking soda toothpaste

The easiest way for getting benefits of brushing teeth with baking soda is to use toothpaste that already contains baking soda as an element. Baking soda is commonly used in many toothpastes due to it’s many benefits. You can conveniently find such toothpastes that will help in teeth cleaning along with breath freshening and controlling tartar.

Lemon and baking soda

Another cool DIY for using baking soda for brushing teeth is to use lemon. You just need to mix equal parts of both baking soda and lemon (roughly half tablespoon) for this recipe. The bleaching property found in the lemon due to presence of citric acid makes it worthy for brushing. Brush with the mixture and don’t forget to rinse your mouth completely after brushing.

How fast does baking soda whiten teeth?

After knowing about different ways of brushing teeth with baking soda, if you’re wondering about how fast does it take to whiten teeth, you may expect it to be quite paced if not fast. You will be able to notice a visible difference after just a few days of using it. The result won’t be much great but quite decent. However, after a few weeks of brushing with baking soda, you will genuinely feel your teeth getting whiter and brighter.

Benefits of brushing teeth with baking soda

Baking soda can be used in a variety of ways for brushing teeth. Following benefits are enough to understand why it’s a hot topic regarding oral care :-

Easily eliminates plaque

Plaque, a type of biofilm that grows on the surface of your teeth by having certain food items and tea, coffee etc can cause gingivitis and cavities. These group of bacteria can badly damage your teeth and gum. Brushing your teeth with baking soda helps reduce the amount of such plaque as the grains of baking soda gets between such biofilm. This makes your teeth look clean.

Not expensive at all

Another great benefit of using baking soda for brushing teeth is that it’s completely inexpensive. A one time purchase of baking soda will last for months and will provide you the similar benefits as a toothpaste. You will easily find it in your nearby stores under 1$.

Gives a brighter smile

Baking soda is very successful in removing any stains from the teeth. It can easily remove any plaque formed on the surface of your teeth making you get a brighter smile. Baking soda is proved to make your teeth brighter by reducing the stains visible on teeth which makes it such a popular choice.

Best option for people with fluoride toxicity

Traditional toothpastes contain fluoride as the main compound. It has been noted that some people have toxicity towards fluoride and brushing teeth with such toothpaste can cause diarrhea, pain, vomiting and kidney problems. Children less than 6 years old are particularly toxic toward fluoride. In such a scenario, baking soda proves to be a better and safer option.

However, before taking the final decision, you should also keep in mind the following cons of using brushing teeth.

Cons of brushing teeth with baking soda

Bad texture and taste

While baking soda may be good enough to remove plaque, you have to compromise with it’s ridiculous taste and texture. While the taste completely unpleasant, it’s texture is something like having sand inside the mouth which will obviously be an issue for most individuals especially if you will use a DIY recipe of baking soda stated above. However, this problem may not bother you if you use a ready to use toothpaste from store.

Not helpful against dental cavities

One downside of brushing teeth with baking soda is that is doesn’t help in fighting against dental cavities due to the absence of fluoride. Fluoride is a natural element present in air, water and even in our bones. An extra fluoride present in toothpastes helps in preventing tooth decay. Even American Dental Association approves toothpastes that have fluoride due to its properties. That’s why baking soda only may not be great in curing dental cavities.

Is it safe to brush your teeth with baking soda?

The answer to the question is yes. Indeed, it can damage your teeth if not used in a proper way, a slight care while brushing teeth with baking soda will always work to maximize the results. Yeah, the gritty texture and bad taste of baking soda may be a big downside while looking for a good alternative, it can work good in giving your teeth an incredible shine in a safe way.

Be cautious while using baking soda for cleaning your teeth. You should not use baking soda for brushing teeth for more than a few times in a week. And, while using it, don’t let it sit in your teeth to avoid any damage. Any long contact with baking soda can lead to gum inflammation. Rinse your mouth with mouthwash or water completely after brushing. You may need to rinse again to wash away baking soda.

Baking soda works as a good option for cleaning your teeth and reducing the amount of plaque formed on your teeth. However, you should note that when this plaque gets hard and forms a strong coating called tartar, baking soda may not be much effective. For the best of both worlds i.e. the comfort of a toothpaste and teeth polishing capacity of baking soda, it is best advised to use a toothache that contains baking soda. For that matter, even hydrogen peroxide filled toothpastes also works great. With all the above points, you will be able to use baking soda for brushing teeth in it’s most appealing manner.