Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSafetyAdvantagesDisadvantagesProduct to BuyMaking Your OwnAlternatives
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Safety
Advantages
Disadvantages
Product to Buy
Making Your Own
Alternatives
Brushing teeth with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a popular way to clean and whiten teeth, either on its own or when included as an ingredient in certain toothpaste.
Research supports the use ofbaking sodapaste to clean and whiten teeth, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is the ideal substitute for yourregular toothpaste. Among its shortcomings, brushing with baking soda deprives you of thefluorideneeded for strong teeth and may underperform when compared to commercialwhitening toothpaste.
Marc Romanelli/Getty Images
Is It Safe to Brush Teeth With Baking Soda?
In addition to teeth brushing, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) has also long been used as a home remedy for healingmouth sores, relievingheartburn, and soothing upset stomach.
Researchers studying the safety and effectiveness of baking soda as toothpaste have concluded that baking soda:
Baking soda toothpaste has also been found to be safe and effective for daily tooth care.
With that said, swallowing baking soda poses some concern as it can alter the acidity level in your blood, contributing to a condition calledmetabolic acidosis. The amounts swallowed during teeth brushing are generally small and pose little risk as long as you don’t make a habit of swallowing large amounts.
Most cases of acidosis are linked to the overuse of baking soda or sodium-bicarbonate-basedantacidsin treating chronic heartburn or upset stomach.
Advantages of Baking Soda for Teeth Brushing
Brushing teeth with baking soda offers numerous benefits. It is an inexpensive way to whiten teeth, and it can reduce plaque and the risk ofgingivitis(gum disease).
Whitening Capability
The mild abrasiveness of baking soda makes it an ideal product for scrubbing away stains, and research supports its use as ateeth whitener. One study suggested that baking soda toothpaste may be as effective as other forms of whitener toothpaste.
Low Cost
Baking soda is cheap. If you’re on a budget, it is a great low-cost alternative compared to expensive teeth whitening procedures or products. Baking soda sold in grocery stores, like Arm & Hammer, rarely costs more than $2 for a 16-ounce box.
Reduction of Plaque and Gingivitis
Baking soda is an excellent scrubbing agent to removeplaque, a sticky coating of bacteria that builds up on teeth. Its cleansing properties make it ideal for keeping your mouth clean.
One study found that toothpaste containing baking soda is effective at removing plaque biofilm.In another study, researchers found baking soda toothpaste users had reducedgum bleeding, gum inflammation, and plaque buildup after six months.
Reduction of Mouth Bacteria
How Fast Does Baking Soda Whiten Teeth?Baking soda is able to whiten teeth with a combination of mild abrasion and the neutralization of mouth acids which helps lighten acid-based food stains.A 2023 study comparing teeth-whitening solutions found that a homemade paste made of 15 parts distilled water and 19 parts baking soda was able to noticeably whiten teeth within five days with twice-daily brushing.
How Fast Does Baking Soda Whiten Teeth?
Baking soda is able to whiten teeth with a combination of mild abrasion and the neutralization of mouth acids which helps lighten acid-based food stains.A 2023 study comparing teeth-whitening solutions found that a homemade paste made of 15 parts distilled water and 19 parts baking soda was able to noticeably whiten teeth within five days with twice-daily brushing.
Baking soda is able to whiten teeth with a combination of mild abrasion and the neutralization of mouth acids which helps lighten acid-based food stains.
A 2023 study comparing teeth-whitening solutions found that a homemade paste made of 15 parts distilled water and 19 parts baking soda was able to noticeably whiten teeth within five days with twice-daily brushing.
Disadvantages of Baking Soda for Teeth Brushing
While there are plenty of pros for using baking soda paste for teeth, there are also some downsides.
Grittiness and Taste
Baking soda doesn’t taste great and can feel like sand between your teeth. If you can’t tolerate plain baking soda mixed with water, plenty of commercial toothpaste options contain baking soda.
Lack of Fluoride
Another disadvantage of using baking soda to clean teeth is that it lacks the necessaryfluorideto protect your teeth from cavities.
Studies have long shown that fluoride toothpaste has a dose-dependent effect onpreventing cavities. The higher the fluoride concentration, the better the protection from cavities.
Consumer Warning
Less Dramatic Whitening
While baking soda is a practical, low-cost whitening agent for superficial stains, it is less effective than other commercial products or professional services.
That is because commercially available whitening agents and professional services rely on more potent ingredients, including bleaching agents for removing deeper stains.
Commercial Dental Products With Baking Soda
When purchasing baking soda toothpaste, read the label to ensure it contains fluoride as well as the ADA seal of approval.
How to Use Baking Soda for Teeth Whitening
For teeth whitening, the simplest way to use baking soda is to sprinkle a little on top of the toothpaste you regularly use for brushing, brushing as normal. Or, you can simply dip your toothbrush into a little baking soda and brush gently.
For more intense whitening, mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, following the same brushing and rinsing steps listed above.
For whitening purposes, baking soda and/or hydrogen peroxide should never be used more than twice a week. Rinse your toothbrush thoroughly afterward.
Safety ConcernAvoid mixing baking soda with lemon juice or vinegar. Not only does this cause excessive foaming, but the applications of these otherwise acids can damage tooth enamel over time.
Safety Concern
Avoid mixing baking soda with lemon juice or vinegar. Not only does this cause excessive foaming, but the applications of these otherwise acids can damage tooth enamel over time.
Alternatives to Baking Soda for Whitening Teeth
If you are using baking soda to whiten your teeth, it may not be as effective as other whitening agents, particularly if you have deep stains. This is because baking soda only has a mild alkaline effect that reaches surface stains.
For deeper cleaning, bleaching agents likehydrogen peroxideorcarbamide peroxidehave generally proven more effective and are just as safe as baking soda on tooth enamel.
Safety Warning
Summary
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Walsh T, Worthington HV, Glenny AM, Marinho VC, Jeroncic A.Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;3(3):CD007868. Published 2019 Mar 4. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007868.pub3
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