Sunday, February 16, 2014

Is There An Answer? Does Baking Soda Whiten Teeth?

By Debbie Ruffo


The question many people are asking, "Does baking soda whiten teeth?" may not be so easy to answer. It all depends on what you mean by white teeth. If you want to return your teeth to their natural color, then yes, baking soda can help you do that. But, if the question is whether or not you can achiever whiter than ever teeth, maybe the answer is no. To find out the real answer, you will have to try it for yourself.

Does Baking Soda Whiten Teeth?

Getting to the bottom of this question means one must understand a bit more about how baking soda is made. Science assigns the name sodium bicarbonate to what is commonly known as baking soda. It is produced by bubbling carbon dioxide through sodium carbonate. This chemical process produces crystals of mineral salt, aka, baking soda.

Now, How Does Baking Soda Whiten Teeth, If It Does

The scientific community calls baking soda a weak base, and that means it reacts to acids as well as bases. Bacteria that cause plaque produce an acid that is neutralized by baking soda. Everyone knows that over time plaque destroys tooth enamel.

There is also a chemical structure to baking soda that makes it perform as a mild abrasive. This is what makes it capable of removing stains. Dicalcium phosphate and hydrated silica are other polishing agents that also remove stains from teeth. They simply scrub stains off teeth. There's something different with baking soda since it dissolves when mixed with water. The solution created by stirring baking soda into water penetrates deeply into places where other abrasives cannot.

Does Baking Soda Whiten Teeth In Any Other Way?

Baking soda crystals are softer than the dentine and enamel which are the outer layers of teeth. This softness allows them to mechanically scrub stains without scratching teeth. Your smile gets brighter, but your teeth may not be whiter.

Every person wishes to have whiter teeth. So, does baking soda whiten teeth? Well, even though you can get brighter teeth with baking soda, you merely cannot get your teeth whiter with this substance. If you are looking to get your teeth white, you may want to try a product that has bleach in it. However, don't discount what you can do for oral hygiene when using it every day.

Is There Anything Else You Can Do To Whiten Teeth?

Does baking soda whiten teeth is the question, and we may have already answered it. If you do want to use baking soda to whiten your teeth, adding a tiny amount of hydrogen peroxide to it can help because it does have whitening power.

According to the American Dental Association, you should never use baking soda by itself for the best oral hygiene. The reason is that it cannot be used in the fight against gum disease and tooth decay. You also need fluoride to maintain strong enamel and fight plaque, and baking soda does not contain this.

Conclusion

Does baking soda whiten teeth? No, but it can be an effective part of daily oral care. You just need to know how to use it and what other products to use with it.




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