Does Baking Soda Whiten Teeth?

The quick answer is...Yes. This is attributed to the abrasive particles in the grains. Stains produced by coffee, black tea or the use of tobacco produce grey and yellowish stains that remain attached to the tooth if not cared properly. But the question is How can I use baking soda in a proper way? People used to clean their teeth using pulverized stone or salt. The problem was that by the only use of baking soda, it does not work as a whitening method. Later on the use of baking soda became more popular in thooth paste along with hydrogen peroxide.

These type of products are so abrasive that if used as a regular basis it can damage the tooth enamel and in some cases it can produce tooth sensivity. Some people suggest that using the tooth once every 2 weeks works just fine. But if you really are thinking of whitening your teeth by yourself, ask your dentist before which and what is the best long term solution without compromising your teeth health.

Tooth Whitening

Tooth whitening is considered the best procedure to reduce the yellowish coloration of teeth.

By means of a whitening solution (carbamide peroxide) and the direct contact with tooth, te solution removes the stains from teeth.

Some of the common reasons why teeth change in color are the use of black tea, red wine, coffee and the worst of them, tobacco. In other isolated cases the use of tetracycline on patients cause some darkening of teeth.

But mostly what moves people to ask the dentist for a whitening, is the lack of confidence in themselves when smiling, associating white teeth with beauty, good health or even youth.

It is important to remember that results may vary according to the patient's habits and age.

-Whitening Techniques-

Whitening Toothpastes


We can say that all the toothpastes on the market are good removing the stains of the teeth. However there are some special toothpastes that remove more stains than others (due to a high concentration of the peroxide), but none of them would have the results that you can get visiting a dentist.

Whitening Strips


The strips are very easy to get in pharmacies and essentially they are strips covered with peroxide in a low concentration, that after 30 minutes in direct contact with teeth, two times a day, for about 14 days, bring good results for the paerson, but remember, it will never be compared with the results obtained at a dentist chair.

Personal Whitening Trays


The laboratory makes some trays identical to the patient's teeth. At home, he fills the trays with peroxide gel (It can be 10, 16 or 30% of intensity) the areas that will be whitened, and for a few hours (preferably at night) the patient wears the tray, allowing the gel to remove practically all the stains on the tooth. The cost is reasonable, but touch ups are needed after a period of 6 to 12 months.

At the Dentist Office


This is considered the best whitening method that can be performed at the dentist office in only one session. The dentist cover the patient's gums with a special gel that protects the gum from irritation. Then it is applied to the teeth carbamida peroxide and is activated by applying heat or a light source. The cost may not be as cheap as the toothpaste or strips but the results and the convenient time of the entire process, motivates more people to ask the dentist for a teeth whitening.