Safest Teeth Whiteners
The safest ways to whiten your teeth explained
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Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a simple chemical compound. It's made of sodium cation and a bicarbonate anion.
It is a white solid crystalline material but often appears as a fine powder.1 Baking soda is versatile and used for many at-home and beauty needs, including teeth whitening.
Baking soda is mildly abrasive and effectively removes surface stains from the teeth.
Many commercial toothpastes contain baking soda. It is often used in at-home teeth whitening as a simple baking soda and water paste.
Research shows that brushing teeth with baking soda effectively helps with:2, 3
Several studies have also shown that baking soda is just as effective in stain removal and whitening as some non–baking soda—containing toothpaste. 4
Another 2019 study found that brushing teeth with baking soda reduced cavity-causing harmful bacteria in the mouth.5
While there are many toothpaste brands on the market, some work better than others. The three best baking soda toothpaste brands include:
Arm & Hammer Advance White Extreme Whitening baking soda toothpaste offers the following benefits:
Colgate’s Baking Soda and Peroxide Whitening Bubbles Toothpaste offers the following benefits:
Tea Tree Therapy Toothpaste with Baking Soda boasts the following benefits:
Baking soda can be found in many types of toothpaste. It is used because it can neutralize acids in the mouth and remove surface stains.
Baking soda is recognized as safe by the FDA.
Most users see less plaque and, in turn, whiter-looking teeth after approximately four weeks of consistent use of baking soda toothpaste.
Baking soda toothpaste is safe to use twice daily. However, people with sensitive teeth should gradually increase their use of baking soda toothpaste if they feel sensitivity.
Generally, baking soda is not abrasive enough to harm teeth or cause dental damage when used regularly. However, if you develop sensitivity, you should stop using it.
Some dentists and researchers caution against the overuse of baking soda toothpaste. In some cases, using baking soda can cause microfractures and scratches in the tooth enamel.
Microfractures and scratches weaken your tooth enamel's structure. Weakened enamel may make teeth more susceptible to staining and make them more yellow and brittle over time.6, 7
Baking soda toothpaste offers many positive benefits to users.
The pros of baking soda toothpaste include:
Despite these benefits, baking soda toothpaste does have some downsides.
The cons of baking soda toothpaste include:
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