Can Using Baking Soda Really Help You Whiten Your Teeth?

Many people believe that having a brilliant white smile is important to having good self-esteem and looking your best.  However, your regular toothpaste might not be doing the best possible job.  Baking soda might actually be able to help you clean and whiten your teeth.  How does this work?

First, baking soda really does clean your teeth, particularly when you combine it with a bit of hydrogen peroxide to form a paste.  It is cheap, effective and really can whiten your teeth as well.  How does it whiten teeth?  The active element here is the abrasiveness of the substance.  It can clean stains far better than regular toothpaste can.

However, if your teeth are particularly yellow or gray, then you should not expect to see tremendous results with baking soda.  Baking soda does work, but it cannot cope with serious discoloration.  Here, you’re better off seeking the professional solutions offered by a dentist, who will use special chemical formulations to whiten your teeth and brighten your smile.

What is baking soda good for, then?  It’s good for regular cleanings, as well as for a quick brightening of your teeth.  When used regularly, it can do an excellent job of keeping your teeth white.  However, there are some problems here.  For instance, frequent use is discouraged because of how abrasive baking soda is.  It can eventually damage the layer of enamel that protects your teeth and even your gums.

So, for basic care and maintenance, regular (though infrequent) use of baking soda can be a good thing.  However, for powerful whitening, see a dentist for the best results.