07/27/23
Many people dream of having lighter and brighter teeth, and there are lots of different ways to obtain a whiter smile, from professional teeth whitening procedures to over-the-counter products like teeth whitening strips. There are even home remedies for teeth whitening, like baking soda.
But does baking soda work to whiten teeth? And what are the pros and cons of using baking soda to clean your teeth? In this guide, we’ll cover all you need to know about baking soda for teeth whitening, including how it works and whether or not it’s worth it.
Before we look at how baking soda can whiten teeth, it's important to have a basic understanding of what this product is. Also known as sodium bicarbonate, baking soda is a white powder that has lots of uses around the house.
As the name implies, baking soda can be used in baking and is really helpful for making cakes and breads rise up in the oven. But it can also be used for cleaning stains, making your laundry detergent more effective, and so much more.
So, does baking soda whiten teeth? The simple answer is yes, baking soda can absolutely help to whiten and lighten your teeth. It's effective at getting rid of surface stains and yellowness, leaving your teeth looking cleaner and brighter.
In fact, baking soda is one of the most popular home remedies for teeth whitening, and many people have used baking soda throughout history to both clean and brighten their teeth. So, it could be an interesting product for you to try, too.
So, what is it about baking soda that makes it a good teeth whitener? Well, baking soda has abrasive qualities. This means that it can rub away at things, and when used on the teeth, it's capable of effectively rubbing away the surface stains, making the teeth look whiter.
However, one of the issues with using baking soda on teeth is that it’s only really effective on those aforementioned surface stains. If you have marks that are deeper down in your teeth, baking soda may not have much of an effect.
There are various benefits of using baking soda solutions, like baking soda toothpaste or baking soda mouthwash, to help clean and whiten your teeth. Here are some of the main advantages that have made baking soda a popular option with so many people:
Unfortunately, even though baking soda has some great benefits and uses for oral health and teeth whitening, it's not perfect. There are some downsides to using baking soda to lighten your teeth, and it’s important to be aware of the disadvantages before deciding if you want to use it.
1. Only Mildly Effective - Even though baking soda can offer some teeth whitening properties, it’s not hugely effective. It’s only good for getting rid of light, surface-level stains and won’t do much for teeth that are more deeply stained or yellow.
2. Can Damage Enamel - As explained earlier on, baking soda is abrasive and wears away at your teeth every time you use it. If you use it excessively, there's a risk that it can damage the protective enamel layer that guards your teeth against decay.
3. Lacks Key Ingredients - A lot of homemade baking soda toothpastes and mixtures lack the other key ingredients that your teeth need to stay healthy, like fluoride, which helps to defend against cavities.
4. Unpleasant Taste and Texture - A lot of people also find that baking soda isn't very pleasant to use on their teeth. It can feel powdery and grainy, like having sand in the mouth, and it doesn't have a nice minty taste like commercial toothpastes.
There are various ways to make use of baking soda to lighten and clean your teeth. Here are some of the methods you can use:
As we can see, baking soda can be a really handy ingredient to use in the fight for lighter and whiter teeth, but it does have some limitations and drawbacks, and there may be situations when it simply won’t give you the results you’re looking for.
When that happens, you’ll want to pursue alternative options. Teeth whitening products, like teeth whitening toothpaste and teeth whitening pens, are some of the best products to use to get rid of stains and enjoy long-lasting results.
Such products are convenient, easy to work with, and don’t have the same risks and problems as baking soda can have. Otherwise, you can also pursue professional whitening treatments at a dental clinic near you.