Baking soda is an excellent addition to any oral health care regimen. Unlike a number of additives to foods and toothpastes, baking soda has been shown time and time again to be safe to use with no significant side effects. Besides being inexpensive and something most households already have on hand (Does anyone actually change the orange box in their fridge every 30 days?), it has a number of features that make it a stand-out in our efforts for optimum oral health.
Low Abrasivity
Baking soda has a very low abrasivity; it won’t wear down your teeth when you use it. (Note: If you’re using a medium or hard toothbrush, or applying too much pressure, you can abrade your teeth no matter what toothpaste or tooth powder you’re using. Be nice to your gums and oral spaces!) The abrasivity of plain baking soda is very similar to dentin (the layer underneath your enamel) so even if it has been noted that you’ve previously been brushing too hard, baking soda will not cause further damage.
Many whitening toothpastes are VERY abrasive, relatively speaking. While whitening toothpastes are deemed safe by the ADA, particularly on healthy teeth, it might be a good idea to avoid whitening toothpastes if you have toothbrush wear or root recession in one or more areas of your mouth. Just ask at your next appointment and we can suggest a toothpaste that may be more appropriate.
Effective Stain Remover
Though baking soda has very low abrasivity, it is an effective stain remover, making teeth appear whiter. It has been shown to be more effective at removing surface stains than some whitening toothpastes and has also been shown to help reduce stains caused by some prescription mouth rinses.
Compatible with Sodium Fluoride
Baking soda is also compatible with sodium fluoride. If you’re going to the trouble of using a toothpaste that will help remove surface stains and get a nice clean tooth surface, you should also be putting some fluoride on those teeth. Fluoride will help strengthen the enamel and make it more resistant to the acids released by bacteria in your mouth. Some abrasives added to toothpaste are not as compatible with sodium fluoride and render fluoride less effective.
Acid Neutralization
For the chemists out there, baking soda also does an excellent job of acid neutralization. Baking soda is easily soluble in saliva, which helps it reach all areas of the mouth, neutralizing the acids that can cause tooth decay. When the pH of your mouth drops below 5.5, your enamel starts becoming demineralized and ions start coming off. Bumping the pH back up closer to 7 or higher helps keep all the ions on your tooth where they should be, making your tooth less susceptible to tooth decay.
Kills the Bad Bugs!
Finally baking soda has been shown to exhibit bactericidal properties where oral pathogens are concerned; translation: baking soda kills off the bad bugs. Both the bacteria that cause gingivitis and those that cause plaque biofilms are susceptible to the effects of baking soda. Therefore, patients who regularly brush with a baking soda toothpaste have exhibited a reduction in plaque and gingivitis.
Tasty?
The main drawback to baking soda is the taste. Brushing with straight baking soda tastes like brushing with a mouthful of ocean water. There is, however, an amazing after-party. After brushing with baking soda, water will miraculously taste like the freshest crystalline mountain spring. It’s so worth it! In order to get around the flavor issue, try first putting toothpaste on your toothbrush, dip the whole thing in a little shot-glass of baking soda, and then brush with the toothpaste and whatever baking soda sticks to the surface. Alternatively, brush with a baking soda toothpaste.
*Special note: It is unclear how much baking soda is actually in toothpaste that claims to contain baking soda. I personally could only confirm baking soda amounts in Arm & Hammer products and Parodontax toothpaste. (If anyone has info on other toothpastes, I’d love to see it!) The Crest website, for example, doesn’t disclose the amount of baking soda present in their products. When in doubt, just dab the whole toothpaste-covered brush in some baking soda and get brushing!
