Today’s market is flooded with products that focus on helping individuals brighten up their teeth and have flawless smiles. Out of many, some products are toothpaste, molds, teeth strips, and even UV-based products that help brighten your teeth conveniently from the comfort of your home.
Most of these teeth-whitening products contain baking soda in minimal yet effective quantity. This is the same baking soda that we use to prepare food such as bread, cakes, etc.
But the question that now arises is, ‘baking soda in teeth-whitening products?’
Bizarre yet true, baking soda is basically sodium bicarbonate that most of us would have encountered in our high schools, known for its abrasive properties that help remove acid-based food stains through its alkaline and salty contents.
But that’s just the start to it; let’s dive right in and explore how baking soda whitens teeth by knowing everything associated with it.
Brushing Teeth With Baking Soda
Baking soda should not be your go-to for everyday brushing, as it has more ill effects than the good it would do to the enamel of your teeth. Therefore, its use, in the beginning, should be minimal with a frequency of around two times a week with not more than 2 minutes of application.
The mixture should be washed off, as the longer it stays on the enamel, the harsher it is on your teeth. Below are a set of instructions that one should follow for better results.
- Start by preparing a mixture of baking soda with water in a container and stir it until it becomes a thick paste.
- Take your toothbrush and swirl it around the container to get the paste on your brush.
- Brush in the same way as we usually do, i.e., keep going in circular motions while covering each tooth individually.
- Keep brushing for a minute or two and then spit the leftover in the sink
- Rinse your mouth with water until your teeth have a shiny feel.
Remember not to use this technique more than twice a week as excessive use can lead to tooth wear caused by abrasion, plus the lack of fluoride can lead to frequent cavities. The best and the most moderate way to use the above method is to brush your teeth with your regular toothpaste, which contains fluoride five times a week, and for the rest of the days, you can use the mixture by following the instructions stated above. The five-day brushing schedule should also follow the same brushing method of going around circular motions reaching every tooth and not brushing for more than two minutes.
To Wrap Up
Yes, baking soda whitens teeth by removing the plaque caused by acid-based foods, as baking soda is a strong base. In addition, it helps remove the plaque and eliminates discoloration with the help of alkaline powder.
Although it comes with a few disadvantages of having an unappealing taste and no fluoride, which helps prevent cavities. Still, the pros are more in number than the cons, making it one of the best go-to ingredients to whiten your teeth.