Comments on: Using baking soda for brushing teeth

By: kelly

kelly — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:30:30 +0000

I’ve been using baking soda for about 2 years. My dentist says my teeth are very healthy. I have no plac build up on them at all. I have very little problems with bad breath. I too have heard some of the stories about all the bad stuff in tooth paste. That’s why I quit using it. My only question/concern is the sodium effect it may have on my body. I know that if it goes under your tongue it goes straight into your bloodstream. So is it harmfull or not?

By: arual

arual — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 19:00:29 +0000

@dj
Can using baking soda wear down fillings? A friend of mine told me that when they used baking soda it worked great but the next month he couldnt drink a cold glass of water because it had made his fillings sensitive :s

By: angel

angel — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 09:35:54 +0000

A dentist told me to put baking soda on the gums, not rub just put it there and rinse. It alkalizes the gum area and prevents erosion. I’ve recently been brushing with mainly water and then I use baking soda on my tongue, and brush with highly diluted baking soda as to not harm the enamel and gums. My teeth have been much better. The glycerine in toothpaste adheres to the enamel and prevents re-mineralization not to mention the chemicals in toothpaste like SLS and fluoride. Yes fluoride is a chemical. It does say on the tube not to swallow. Also it’s best to rinse the mouth out after eating, especialy citrus or anything caustic like sodas.

By: steph

steph — Wed, 25 May 2011 18:45:50 +0000

put a little bit of ground cinnamon in your baking soda before brushing. also, using ground herbs mixed in also helps like neem and myrrh. (amongst many others)

By: Asker

Asker — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:31:33 +0000

is using baking powder effects the same way as using baking soda??;(

By: Dancedancekj

Dancedancekj — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 01:00:41 +0000

As a younger dentist (still in dental school actually!) I find that most of my patients that need the most work are usually the ones that don’t have good oral hygiene in the first place. There are exceptions of course, but taking care of your teeth is so simple and effective that it doesn’t make sense not to do it. A small investment in a toothbrush and floss sure beats shelling out money for fillings, crowns, or implants. Or not drinking so much soda pop

By: Concojones

Concojones — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 04:58:47 +0000

Okay, I’ve tried it (baking soda as toothpaste) and I don’t like its abrasive effect, similar to “whitening” toothpaste (which I dislike for the same reason). The best toothpaste IMHO is something that foams in your mouth (for the “motor oil” effect mentioned above), and no crap in it (fluor, abrasives — those are for people that brush once every fifteen weeks).

Here’s my advice on teeth brushing. I’m not an expert, although I’m well-informed due to all the dentists in my family, but I don’t copy their advice blindly. I found that I can have caries-free, smooth teeth (smooth, when I run my tongue over them) by using a toothbrush with many, dense, soft hairs; a non-abrasive toothpaste; a soft brushing technique (massaging rather than scraping your gum); flossing (as the brush doesn’t get to the most critical places). Finding a good brush is the hardest part, since the new fashion seems to be few stiff brush hairs (poorly cleans teeth IMHO, pushes back your gum making your teeth sensitive to cold, but makes you consume more toothpaste which means $$ for the manufacturer). The only good ones I know are the Sensodyne Search 3.5 (not manufactured anymore except in the UK, AFAIK) and the newer Sensodyne “ultra soft”. They’re good because they have the features I mentioned above, unlike any other brush.

By: Concojones

Concojones — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 03:06:46 +0000

I’ve heard the same (toothpaste being redundant) from my uncle who is a dentist. I came to the opposite conclusion (but I haven’t yet presented it to him): toothpaste foam softens the impact of the toothbrush on your gums (try it, you can put much more pressure without injuring yourself). It’s like motor oil in a motor. And you don’t want to irritate your gums with harsh brushing because the gums withdraw, teeth become sensitive to cold etc, and finally fall out.

I’ve never tried baking soda. Can anyone tell me whether it produces some kind of foam as well (softening the harshness from brushing, like toothpaste)?

By: Kevin M

Kevin M — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 20:11:52 +0000

The science lesson has me convinced, going to try it tonight.

By: prodgod

prodgod — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 23:54:13 +0000

My two concerns with baking soda would be scratching of the enamel and lack of fluoride.

By: BeyondtheWrap

BeyondtheWrap — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 22:15:43 +0000

Can someone address what Felix said? I am also concerned about the possible effects of baking soda on one’s enamel.

By: James Schipper

James Schipper — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 19:13:38 +0000

I started using baking soda to brush with about a year ago after I read about it here. 2 weeks ago, my dentist said my teeth were MUCH better than a year ago.

I floss and brush only with baking soda now.

By: retirebyforty

retirebyforty — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:49:56 +0000

OK, I’ll try it and see if it works for me. Maybe start out with baking soda once a day and increase if it works. I brush 3-4 times a day with Colgate…

By: HSpencer

HSpencer — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:34:23 +0000

@dj

Thanks for your excellent advice. A nice thing about this blog is having experts commenting. A resident dentist is a pure bonus!
I have been one who visits the dentist office on the every six months basis for cleanings. Being retired military, I have excellent dental insurance at almost no cost, so I “use” it freely and copiously. I consider my personal dentist outstanding, and I sincerely hope I am long gone before he retires. If you might comment on something for me, I will ask a question. My dentist has two hygienists on staff. Each 6 months I get one or the other of them for my cleaning. Their methods are totally different, although equally effective it seems. One uses a high speed water jet, and a high speed polisher. The other uses the older method of “hunt and scrape”. Both measure every other visit for bone loss. One insists on fluoride application, the other says it’s not necessary each cleaning. My mouth is pretty sore after the “hunt and scrape” lady, but no soreness after the water jet lady.
My question is: Would not the dentist prescribe a standard method of cleaning in his office? What do you think is the best method?

Thanks!!

By: frugalscholar

frugalscholar — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 16:28:00 +0000

Yes, floss.

Also–babyboomers are stressed out and grinding teeth or clenching jaws. This will cause lots of problems down the line–like cracked teeth, etc.

By: Felix

Felix — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:00:41 +0000

I’ve read that baking soda wears down your enamel (having a high pH), so you shouldn’t use it as it basically wears down your teeth. Enamel is not being replaced.

By: tom blum

tom blum — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 12:57:20 +0000

“Speaking of which; did you know that Listerine was originally invented to cure athletes foot? Instead it was turned into a mouthwash. Nothing wrong with that”

Now, there’s synergy at it’s best. Think of “foot in mouth syndrome” and treat with listerine

TTFN

By: Fort Lauderdale Jack

Fort Lauderdale Jack — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:50:49 +0000

I also have an elevated blood pressure since I started brushing with just Baking Soda. Never reaching for the salt shaker, it would be interesting to see how many more baking soda believers also have developed this condition. After brushing, I swish for 3 minutes with the new TOTAL from Listerine and my dentist saw no plaque and complemented me on such a hygienically clean mouth.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:26:05 +0000

@OceanStar – Lime? Do you mean the fruit or the mineral?

By: OceanStar

OceanStar — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:04:08 +0000

i have been using baking soda and lime but im not sure if i should because im thinking that might be a little to much acid for my teeth and cause my enamel to break down ?