Whitening teeth with baking soda, is it good or bad?

Everyone likes to have a gleaming white smile. However, having gleaming white teeth not always possible. Numerous enemies, like Medications used to administer iron for some types of anemia, tobacco and alcohol, certain foods, dental trauma, reasons of bacterial origin or the use of fluoride in inappropriate concentrations, can darken the teeth.

Foods that stain teeth: what are they?

Foods that stain teeth: what are they?

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In addition, with age, the protective enamel wears, cracks, becomes rough and sensitive to stains. It should also be noted that the color of a tooth is never pure white. It has yellowish or grayish tones, aspects that depend on the enamel, the outer surface, and the dentine, the intermediate tissue that represents most of the tooth and that is opaque and yellowish in color.

But the fashion for radiant white teeth has led to the appearance of countless natural formulas and kits homemade that can be made at home and that promise whiten teeth without having to go to the dentist.

The sodium bicarbonate, a ubiquitous chemical compound in homes and with countless domestic uses, many in personal hygiene products, it is one of the most used home remedies as a teeth cleaner and whitening, along with other home remedies such as apple cider vinegar, lemon or rubbing your teeth with orange peel.

But is it safe and effective for tooth enamel?

How sodium bicarbonate works on our teeth

Baking soda has natural bleaching properties. Several studies have shown that it is a mild abrasive with the ability to remove stains from the outside of teeth and neutralize acids that cause cavities.

The fine particles of the baking soda rub the surface of the teeth and remove stains. In addition, it is alkaline, which means that it neutralizes and removes acid stains such as those that foods such as coffee or red wine can leave behind.

But exposing your teeth to baking soda can have consequences that are not always desirable, such as erosion of enamel, the surface part of the tooth, a thin, hard outer layer that protects each tooth.

When worn down by an irritant, such as baking soda, this can promote the appearance of cavitiesSince the bacteria in the plaque can penetrate the teeth in a much faster way.

Therefore, it is possible that we notice an effective whitening in the short term, but also a long-term damage of the teeth because it increases the risk of removing the enamel irreversibly.

According to the General Council of the Colleges of Dentists of Spain, this product is a salt, therefore, it forms small crystals that, when rubbed with the teeth, scratch the enamel and destroy it. For the experts, performing teeth whitening without medical supervision carries serious health risks.

The hydrated silica, alumina or calcium phosphateCommercial whitening products that contain bicarbonate are also abrasive, although their formulation is made so that the exfoliation is homogeneous. Despite everything, experts advise not to abuse them, and even less in cases where tooth sensitivity is suffered.

Some research They give baking soda a low rating as a teeth whitener because, they say, it may not remove stains as effectively as expected. Therefore, it is an ineffective method.

Baking soda shouldn’t be used frequently because doing so can also damage your gums. And you should not replace toothpaste because it does not contain fluoride, which is necessary to help protect teeth against the development of cavities and helps to strengthen teeth.

How to keep your teeth white and healthy without damaging them

Taking care of your teeth goes far beyond daily brushing. Other factors must be taken into account if we want them to look healthy and perfect.

  • Avoid substances that can erode enamel and staining teeth: tobacco, coffee, red wine, etc.
  • Maintain proper dental hygiene: brush your teeth after every meal with fluoride toothpaste to prevent cavities. Attention should be paid to whitening pastes because, although some have passed rigorous controls, others, such as abrasives, give a whiter appearance but wear the surface of the teeth and it does not regenerate.
  • Visit the dentist regularlyWe usually go to the office when we feel pain, but the best measure to prevent problems is to do it regularly, about every six months. He is the one who will assess how and when to do the teeth whitening treatment with the application of hydrogen peroxide and techniques such as the application of light or heat.

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Source: ElDiario.es – ElDiario.es by www.eldiario.es.


