Does baking soda really whiten teeth?

Baking soda is a common household product that can be found in many whitening toothpastes. Using it to remove stains from teeth is common practice.

How does it work? It is composed of a chemical compound that makes soda a great mild abrasive. That is why it effectively removes surface stains from your teeth and even make them appear whiter. However, baking soda will not be able to remove deeper, older stains. It is not that effective.

THIS IS IMPORTANT: If you are considering using this method to help whiten your teeth, you need to be aware of possible side effects. With continual use, you could cause damage to the enamel that coats your teeth.

More Info: www.colgate.com

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What are your thoughts on this subject?

80 Comments

William Laughlin

Calm down! Perhaps seek some anger management sessions.Typing with your caps lock on makes it appear as though you are screaming. Is that your intent? You don't seem to be an educated dental professional, so your opinion is rather moot. Had you been a dental professional, you certainly would not have called the coating on your teeth porcelain. It is not porcelain unless you've had dental work done. The natural coating on your teeth is called enamel.

Bill Coe

William Laughlin Of course Denis would know more than someone who only has a DMD and a PhD. I like the way you stand up for the poor and the downtrodden. And, for those other critics, the question is fine as is the answer.

Dena Barrett

This question provided disingenuous information. Basing soda is an excellent cleaner and is actually recommended by many dentists. If USED INCORRECTLY it can damage teeth but when applied correctly it is actually an excellent cleanser that does NOT damage the teeth. My kids' dentist recommended its use and showed them how to use it correctly. It does a very good job keeping down stains. You need to either reword the question or change your potential answers.

Louise C.

williamrlaughlin, Finally someone else who finds it irksome when people use cap locks ( the word irksome is what I think of it)

Chris Brown

It apparently has advantages as well as disadvantages. I found the following which is interesting: "While it's great at removing built-up plaque and surface stains, it can also damage your enamel if you brush with it too aggressively. Don't overuse the product — Don't use baking soda for whitening purposes more than twice a week. If it's overused, it can cause tooth sensitivity and increase the risk for cavities.".

konrad

Mi grandmother had very noce teeth and she said that in her childhood she didn't know tooth paste butcleaned her teeth with calcium carbonate, called "creta" (she was basque).Apparently it worked... though in my days she brused her teeth with Colgate LOL LOL

derby

Chrissie, Dr bronners has one

Ray Knutson

Not sure how you damage your teeth since the American Dental Association rate it as a milder abrasive than many retail tooth pastes?

Chrissie

I use baking soda toothpaste occasionally for a "deep clean", but not all the time. Used to, but found it was encouraging mouth ulcers. Just too strong for every day. Does anyone know if you can still get cinnamon flavoured toothpaste? There used to be a brand named Dentyne, but I haven't seen it for years.

Andy the educated troglodyte

Dena Barrett, Well said, lass...common sense prevails.

Andrew Prankevicius

Baking soda tooth paste was recommended to me. Look at arm and hammer tooth paste for verification

girl pn

No is correct why should we use it to damage our teeth

Andrew Prankevicius

Dena Barrett, Hello Dena, absolutely right and there is a brand of FDA approved toothpaste that uses baking soda as its main ingredient. Arm and Hammer Toothpaste