We
have all heard about the many uses for baking soda, the natural
cleaner. But have you tried brushing your teeth with it?
Baking soda has been used as a tooth cleanser for over 150
years. Somehow it got the reputation as being abrasive,
therefore detrimental to the enamel. Nothing could be farther from the
truth. Toothpastes are rated on a scale from 0 – 200according to their
abrasiveness.
There are many reasons for using baking
soda for brushing teeth. It is not only the least abrasive substance
to use but it also whitens teeth, removes stain, and is also an
effective germ killer against the bacteria that cause tooth decay and
gum disease.
You
may be wondering just what baking soda is and how it works.
Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is a white, crystalline, slightly
alkaline powder. This weakly alkaline baking soda, when
dissolved in water, releases free radicals.
Besides
oxidizing (scraping off) the stains on the teeth baking soda also removes
plaque form the teeth. Plaque removal prevents the teeth
from decaying and also freshens the breath. Overall, brushing with baking soda is
believed to enhance dental health. That is why so many
people who have been using baking soda all their lives appear to
have healthy teeth and gum.
If
you are concerned about the absence of fluoride when brushing with
baking soda, you can simply put some commercial fluoridated
toothpaste on your toothbrush. It will pick up the right amount
of baking soda to make a nice paste. Use that to brush
with. A side note regarding fluoride: The benefits
of fluoride and fluoridated water have been a controversial matter
for a long time. There are not many experts who feel that
toothpaste should not contain fluoride at all, nor should the
public drinking water!