Is baking soda bad for teeth?

Baking soda - what's the score?

It is often tempting to read about a dental home remedy and enthusiastically try it in a bid to solve an existing problem. Unfortunately, this is true of patients believing that a cheap and easy way to whiten their teeth is by using the baking soda they have in the cupboard.

Baking soda can be very useful in removing stains or eliminating unwanted smells from a carpet, however you MUST avoid trying to whiten your teeth with it. There is an argument, that because baking soda contains sodium bicarbonate which helps remove stains, it should replicate these results if your teeth have coffee or food stains. However, many stains in your teeth are deeper than the surface and consequently not only would the baking soda not remove the stain, it could strip away some of the enamelHard calcified tissue covering dentin of the crown of tooth. if you brush your teeth with it.

Additionally, unlike toothpaste, baking soda doesn’t contain fluoride which helps strengthen your teeth and protects against decay spreading. This decayThe lay term for carious lesions in a tooth; decomposition of tooth structure. can lead to cavities and the need for fillings or crowns.

In short, if you want to whiten your teeth the best recourse would be to contact your dentist, who will be able to suggest an approved teeth whitening set or cosmetic treatments that can provide long lasting results.

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