Most of us know baking soda as a kitchen all-rounder.
Whether as a baking agent or as a cleaning aid, baking soda appears as a reliable helper in many home remedies. This actually also applies to dental care.
Brushing your teeth with baking soda is said to have a natural whitening effect and is also good for your gums. Even Hollywood actress Julia Roberts revealed in an interview that she brushes her teeth with baking soda - a trick that her grandfather allegedly used.
Does baking soda really help whiten your teeth?
Brushing your teeth with baking soda actually has a whitening effect. The reason for this is the fine particles of baking soda, which, like tiny sandpaper, rub discoloration off your teeth.
When used correctly, deposits are removed and the natural whiteness of the teeth is revealed.
Baking soda is therefore particularly popular with smokers, who often struggle with yellowing of their teeth.
Baking soda for brushing your teeth - what actually happens?
The discoloration on our teeth is deposits. In particular tannins, such as those found in
- Red wine,
- Coffee,
- cigarettes
- or black tea,
make our teeth darker over time and cause unsightly discoloration.
However, in order to get whiter teeth again, you don't necessarily have to resort to so-called whitening toothpastes, which usually contain a lot of very artificial ingredients and microplastics and are classified by many dentists as too abrasive - i.e. damaging to tooth enamel.
When brushing your teeth, the fine particles of baking soda are able to remove the discoloring plaque from the tooth surface. In order to achieve exactly this effect, the industry uses coarser abrasive particles and microplastics, which are now rare, in whitening toothpastes.
White teeth with baking soda - can that also be harmful?
Sodium bicarbonate is controversial because it can be potentially harmful to teeth. Some suspect that the crystalline form of baking soda destroys tooth enamel.
This is certainly the case if baking soda is used dry directly on the tooth and the brushing technique is rough and too hard. However, when baking soda is dissolved in water or, better yet, in saliva, it is one of the less abrasive agents used in dental care and still removes deposits, as studies show .
In our teethlovers tooth powder, for example, we use very finely pulverized baking soda, which, in combination with healing chalk and clay, enables a gentle brushing process.
Baking soda in tooth powder?
Using baking soda as a pure dentifrice has a different effect than using it as part of a powder made up of different ingredients. The formula of the tooth powder is designed to stimulate saliva production.
The powder liquefies during the brushing process, so that with the right polishing technique and the fine mineral particles, deposits and plaque can be removed while the tooth enamel is protected.
Thanks to the antibacterial plant extracts they contain, the various types of teethlovers tooth powder also taste delicious. The brushing experience with tooth powder therefore has nothing to do with using pure baking soda.
You can find out the advantages and tips you need to consider when using tooth powder in a separate article.
Baking soda for gum inflammation
Baking soda has other benefits when it comes to your dental care.
- It can be used as an accompanying measure for gum inflammation. Gingivitis – or inflammation of the gums – often results from poor oral hygiene and the associated accumulation of unfavorable bacteria. Baking soda has an antibacterial effect and binds acids.
- A self-made mouthwash can provide appropriate relief.
- Simply dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of warm water
- and rinse your mouth with it after brushing your teeth.
Baking soda is also considered a home remedy for toothache. Since a lot of pain comes from bacterial inflammation, this can make sense.
However, if you have acute toothache or inflammation, we would generally advise you to see a dentist.
You can read the best tips on what to do if your gums are inflamed here.
What other natural substances can whiten your teeth
Brighter teeth for a radiant smile is probably a wish of many. In addition to baking soda, there are other home remedies for white teeth, which we would like to discuss in more detail here.
If you find a way to whiten your teeth naturally, you will save yourself and your body a lot of harmful substances that whitening products or bleaching bring with them.
Brush your teeth with turmeric
Cleaning your teeth with turmeric may sound a little absurd at first; after all, turmeric is bright yellow. And anyone who has ever had turmeric between their fingers while cooking knows how stubborn this yellow can be as a natural coloring agent.
Nevertheless, turmeric is an effective way to whiten teeth. In India, it is a common method to brush your teeth with turmeric powder. Here again, it is the light abrasive particles of the powder that effectively remove deposits. Turmeric is also said to have an anti-inflammatory effect, which can prevent gum inflammation.
We use an organic turmeric extract in our lemon-ginger-turmeric tooth powder, which is free of yellow curcuminoids.
Our organic turmeric extract contains xanthorrhizole.
Xanthorrhizole can eradicate the caries trigger Streptocccus mutans within minutes. It also works
- antibacterial,
- against Actinomyces viscosus
- and Porphyromonas gingivalis, which cause periodontitis.
Brushing your teeth with coconut oil
Brushing your teeth with coconut oil also has a certain whitening effect. Here it is the lauric acid contained in it that can whiten teeth. Coconut oil is particularly gentle on tooth enamel and can support oral health in other ways.
The oil works against it
- germs,
- Viruses
- and bacteria in the mouth.
This means it can reduce the risk of plaque, tartar and inflammation. It also strengthens the pellicle, the protective film on our teeth.
Coconut oil is therefore also used as an oil pulling treatment to strengthen the gums, but also for toothache.
However, we would like to emphasize again at this point: If you experience toothache, you should always see a dentist!
Sage for whiter teeth
Not only is sage good for your mouth and throat, sage is also good for your teeth.
Chewing dried sage can have a mild whitening effect on teeth: Because the leaves have a rough surface, they lightly polish the teeth when chewed, so they rub away discoloration. You can simply chew some dried leaves after eating.
Positive side effect:
- Sage has a calming effect, even when gargled as a tea
- and soothes inflammation on the gums
- and is a good home remedy for gum inflammation.
Conclusion on the topic: baking soda & teeth
Baking soda is a tried-and-tested and even very common means of whitening teeth among smokers. Its alkaline, acid-regulating effect also makes it a home remedy for inflammation of the gums and bad breath.
It is suitable as a tooth whitener thanks to its tiny polishing particles. However, it should not be used as a sole tooth cleaning agent to protect tooth enamel.
