Many People Are Advocating It, But That Does Not Mean They Are Correct
* Be sure to share your opinion on this topic below in the comment section and read the comments that are there already.
I know that there are many people, even dental health professionals that extol the virtues of brushing with baking soda. Now, if you are using a toothpaste that contains baking soda, that is different than what I am talking about here. That is a small amount of baking soda. I'm addressing those who actually dip a wet toothbrush in pure baking soda and proceed to brush their teeth with it!
There are also those who advocate mixing baking soda with hydrogen peroxide and brushing with that. I also believe that is problematic too. I would not personally do either.
Ask The Right Professional If You Cannot Accept What I Am Saying
I'm going to share the subjective and anecdotal evidence I have against the practice. And, I am going to ask you, if you still have any doubts, to ask a periodontist about brushing with baking soda. Specifically ask him if doing so can cause gum recession.
Baking soda is very abrasive and definitely has the ability to erode your gum line (gum recession) as does brushing too hard in general, even without baking soda.
I asked my own periodontist about this and he said he could definitely see how baking soda could cause gum erosion due to its abrasive property.
Subjective But Important Information I Have Collected
I have two stories to relate to you hear. You will make your own choices of course, I am only sharing the information I have heard from two separate sources.1. A Dentist - I know a prevention oriented dentist named Ellie Phillips. You may have heard of her. She sells the Zellies brand of xylitol mints and gums. Has developed the Clean, White Teeth protocol, and has written a book: Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye.
She has over 30 years of real clinical experience behind her. She told me that anytime she has seen a patient with rapid and unexplained (not due to gum disease or other disease) gum recession, they have always been using either hydrogen peroxide or baking soda in their mouths!
Anyone who has noticed this in their practice over a 30 year period, is worth paying attention to, in my opinion.
2. The Second piece of information on this came from one of my customers. I often have lengthy discussions with my customers. On this particular day, probably a couple of years ago, we talked about baking soda.
I explained what Dr. Phillips said in number 1 above. This customer told me that she had tried baking soda but didn't like the taste so she did not continue.
Then she had an epiphany. Her husband had been brushing with baking soda for years. And he DID have an unnatural amount of gum recession. She said compared to the rest of his family he had more recession than they did.
OK, those are my two pieces of information to share.
Again, you are going to make your own choices. I know that!.
But, I feel better knowing that I at least shared what appears to be the truth with you. I understand my evidence is subjective. But that is the best I have to go on.
One thing I often say is this, "It is better to error on the side of caution". This means, "It is better to be safe than sorry."
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Sincerely,
David Snape
ToothyGrinsStore.com
1-888-586-6849
PS: add your voice to the discussion, ask a question or chime in to answer someone else's question. It can really help people to hear from others.
I'm so disappointed, my grandmother always had used baking soda for brushing teeth and I did growing up there on occasion. It did whiten the teeth. Interesting about them being abrasive. What about tooth paste that adds baking soda in?
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of people really use and believe in Baking Soda. That's why I kind of put in terms of here is the information I have...
ReplyDeleteBaking Soda in toothpaste is a small amount. I don't think there would be too many problems with that. However, brushing gently is always advisable no matter what toothpaste one uses.
why is baking soda called highly abrasive when it is actually rated as less abrasive than most tooth pastes?
DeleteDavid Snape
DeleteWhy dont you stop trying to sell crap products with your LIES?? Get a real job. Seriously. You should be ashamed for trying to steer the public away from baking soda. It is the ONE single weapon against the lies of the dental industry scam. I went through all the mouth problems back when I used toothpaste. Tartar buildup. Receding gums. Cavities. Hurting teeth. All caused by TOOTHPASTE!! Dentists want you to have a bad mouth because it makes them money!! Baking soda cures all those things. It is not abrasive. I have been using it for three years straight. And it made all those things go away. I havent been to a dentist since then. Amazing thing is that I only brush once a day. And my teeth are always clean and smooth. The alkaline pH of baking soda prevents problems in your mouth. The acidic fluoride of toothpaste is TOXIC. Your dentist is a big fat liar!! Just like a doctor. Just like a lawyer. All just wanting money. Even if it kills YOU. They are enemies of mankind.
Yeah sure, your receding gums went away with baking soda...
DeleteReceding gums don't go back down!
Remember a few things before you decide what to believe: 1) your age 2) health of your teeth 3) the source(s) you're hearing it from --and after you read up on the true SCAM industry of DENTISTRY! Coming from an oral surgeon who extracted a few of my teeth who backed up what she told me with research and articles and did much of my own, as well, I believe little of what dentist because they're all a bunch of liars and thieves. Everyone knows or should know that FLUORIDE is a very serious and harmful TOXIN, and yet the damn dentist tells me to do flouride rinses! I am 50 years old now but have always had bad teeth that are weak and easily starting when I was a very young girl before I even started eating sweets! I also have had a lot of bad dental work -especially with root canal and crowns not fitting properly. According to this oral surgeon and my experience with my own + bad dentistry, once you have a cavity and it's big enough that you need a root canal, it's best to have your tooth extracted and get an implant. The reason is the integrity of your tooth is compromised and then they make it even weaker by grinding it down only to go and build it back up (called posts) and of course, they CHARGE you for that and then slap a $1500 crown on top of whatever is left of your tooth--and guess what? No crown is a safeguard against cavities --in fact it'll be worse because the integrity of tooth structure + the workmanship of the dentist or lack there of as in my case, it's not going to last you --and that's if you don't get new problems because the dentistry. I don't trust doctors or dentists because they have to jack up the prices on everything and nickel and dime you on everything to support their lifestyle and pay for all the expensive equipment and technology in their offices.. Do your research and use your brain. Invite opposite viewpoints to entertain other schools of thought besides your own and the dentist that's making 2nd home payments off you and whatever other lifestyle luxuries he depends on you and all his other naive, gullible patients for. Always ask questions and don't believe everything you hear. Seriously, it has to make you wonder or or a least QUESTION WHY dentist telling you to do things that are just outright lies and misguiding you. Good luck!
DeleteIts money money. I say your right. All sales people like most sales people Liars.
DeleteLike they say, trust your mechanic, one things fixed another falls apart.
DeleteI will just say that I was using a major brand of toothpaste this week that had baking soda (and who knows what else) and probably gravel in it for what it did to my gums. Within 4 days I had white lesions running along above the gum line. The PAIN is like having tiny bugs biting my gums, because they FREAKING ITCH. I have been taking flossers and getting in-between each tooth, scratching it to relieve it. I switched toothpastes, but WTF kind of product is this? I went to a urgent care today and was mortified when she told me I probably should brush better!? Lady, this shit came out of no where, and the crazy part is, if I would've forgotten to brush my teeth for a week, it WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED!!!
I know a lot of people that still do brush their teeth with baking soda and some of them have gum problems.
ReplyDeletethat makes sense in light of the information above.
DeleteYou have to look at facts over long term. Baking soda is pure sodium carbonate. My best friend is a master chemist and he can tell you nothing bad about baking soda.
DeleteYour article speaks of someone in a field that has a chance of being sponsored for their research, and money can change any outcome.
I brush with pure baking soda mixed in water every day and have done so since i was a child and have never had one dentist checkup that had a bad report.
My chemist friend even goes so far as to mix 8oz of water with 1tsp of soda every night before he heads to bed for complete body health, and they guy has literally never been sick.
I put it in all my foods now (small amounts mind you) an it has even helped send my cancer into remission 2 years after i rejected chemo. Any oldtimer will tell you to always go with baking soda!!!
I don't think this particular dentist has an ulterior motive. She has been promoting prevention techniques for a long time. She has also encountered resistance from others in her field for her views on prevention.
Deletehttp://www.levysmiles.com/docs/Abrasiveness_of_Common_Toothpase.pdf
ReplyDeleteBaking soda has an RDA of 7. Toothpaste ranges 35-200. You tell me which is more abrasive.
There is also anecdotal evidence of people who use baking soda and have amazing results over their lifetimes. How can that dentist (or any other) point to baking soda or peroxide as the problem without proper research to find causation, not simply that correlation?
Will, are you brushing with baking soda yourself, personally?
DeleteI don't and I won't - her non-scientific observations are good enough for me. There is something to be said for experience.
Research and data can be manipulated to say a lot of things. But, that doesn't mean it is always right. I'll take common sense whenever in doubt.
Was that an attempt at an ad hominem? I am on the fence about it and I've seen a lot of conflicting information about using baking soda on your teeth. Using baking soda would be much less expensive than toothpaste if the risks are a fiction. I very much want to find the truth in this confusing, frustrating controversy.
DeleteAlways trust in good scientific/empirical evidence. Studies absolutely can be botched and faked, but finding out who funded the study, how it was funded, and who stood to gain from the results can help steer you clear from the obviously wrong ones.
Something everyone must remember, and most people seem to forget, is that correlation does not mean causation! Experience is well and good, but in this situation, it will not tell you specifically what is causing harm. A proper (independent, objective, and unbiased) scientific study, either observational or experimental, on the efficacy of baking soda would be quite helpful here. The only one I have found was favorable of baking soda, but used only fifteen people! Fifteen is not a statistically significant number, and so that study is pretty much worthless.
That RDA index I linked is from ADA research. Being an organization with ties to the pharmaceutical industry, it is without a doubt corrupt and biased in some ways. But I do not understand how publishing information favoring baking soda, one that contradicts the abrasiveness assertion, would favor them or the companies of the toothpaste products they promote. If you were implying that this data was manipulated, I don't see how or where, or even why it would be.
There is misinformation and lies about the use of baking soda for oral hygiene spread throughout the internet. The proof of that is in the many different opinions you can find. Maybe one day we'll find out the truth.
Not at all, my comments are strictly about the subject of brushing with baking soda. As I said before, common sense is often the best path to take. And since the question exists, why not error on the side of caution?
Deletethe reason I asked the question was to see where you are truly at on the subject. Are you someone who has doubts before you try it or someone who has been doing it for a long time and feels the need to defend the practice. A peron's starting point is very important. My question is not an attack, just trying to see where the starting point of your perspective was. As I mentioned above, I believe that when someone with 30 years of clinical experience says that she has noticed something, I'm willing to pay attention. I also said it is better to 'error on the side of caution".
DeleteI am on the fence about switching to straight baking soda. I've been using baking soda with castile soap for about six months as something of a personal experiment to see if I could do without commercial toothpaste and have seen no harm come to my gums. I have noticed no change in my gum line myself, and I have seen an orthodontist for an unrelated issue and he had nothing to say on the matter.
DeleteI have, however, noticed staining on my teeth, which I cannot attribute to baking soda itself. I used straight castile soap the previous six months and my teeth got stained in a similar manner.
Now for some compelling anecdotal evidence from my own experience. Last night, while writing my earlier response, I treated these stains with three applications of baking soda paste and rinsing with a baking soda solution. While they are not completely gone, I have noticed significant improvement. I did not expect to see such a change with a simple home remedy.
If I continue to see results like this, I will only stop using baking soda if and when I experience pain or sensitivity. That's enough caution for me personally, because those are the first signs of gum or enamel damage.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us Will. Whatever happens, good or bad, I hope you will come back here and share what you have found with us. I think that would be beneficial to others who have the same question on this topic.
DeleteI am a huge baker and a lot of my recipes call for baking soda so according to you and your information every time I take a bite of a brownie I am causing abrasions on my teeth
DeleteAnd another thing a lot of the time it is not straight baking soda they brush with, they add the same amount of water as baking soda and turn it into the same consistency as toothpaste
Will said: "The only one I have found was favorable of baking soda, but used only fifteen people! Fifteen is not a statistically significant number, and so that study is pretty much worthless."
DeleteNot disagreeing with the points being made here, but statistical significance is determined through the use of statistical tests that include the sample size in the calculation. There are no definitive 'statistically significant numbers'. Generally, larger samples are better for many reasons but depending on the data and question being asked, a statistical test performed on 15 subjects can be produce statistically significant results.
Brushing with a fluoride toothpaste is essential so you cannot substitute toothpaste for baking soda. I tried dipping my toothpaste on the brush in baking soda and loved the way it made my teeth feel really clean and they looked instantly whiter with none of the pain and inconvenience of whitening products. But now I am worried about damage. I wonder if it would be ok to brush with baking soda for say a two week period once or twice a year to whiten?
ReplyDeleteHi Laura, it would be difficult to say. I can tell you that my own periodontist told me that he can definitely see how the abrasive nature of baking soda could cause gum erosion. So, I think you need to be very careful about using it. Maybe you should talk it over with your dentist or hygienist. I guess I would say the safest thing to do is not use it at all.
DeleteWhat did people use before toothpaste
Delete> They used tooth powder, which largely consisted of sodium bicarbonate.
DeleteI've been researching this evening because I was curious about how abrasive bicarb is on teeth - it seems if you use it with water, as opposed to pure dry powder on teeth, you'll be fine. This guy David Snape who says "common sense (whatever that means) is better than research and scientific studies" is probably best ignored.
yoyo wats up pple I just wanted to know is there anything else rather than baking soda you COULD use??
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous, you might take a look at this:
Deletehttp://blog.toothygrinsstore.com/2013/05/essential-oil-blend-of-almond-spearmint.html
Maybe this is what you are looking for.
It is bad to brush continually with it, but once every two weeks or three times a month isn't bad. Just be sure to use enamel strengthening products as a safety measure.
ReplyDeleteHi All, I have been using Baking Soda and hydrogen peroxide for so many years now, I could not tell you. I have perfect teeth and gums and have perfect dental check ups. I do use regular tooth paste everyday and the baking soda/peroxide combo once or twice a week. My teeth are very white. It works! Don't let one article scare you away from using baking soda.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your experience with using baking soda for the long term.
DeleteI think you are thinking too negative on the use of baking soda. Just because your dentist talked about the possibilities of gum abrasion does not out weigh the many positive results of using baking soda for teeth. It's not that hard to avoid brushing gums and limit usage to once a week or two weeks. Your entire article is based on a unknown possibility. If you're going to post an article with such a negative nature please have studies or specific sources about the topic. You CAN die from a car accident every time you drive. You CAN die from being hit by car every time you walk on the street. Does such small possibilities scare you? Do you wanna preach people about these possibilities too?
ReplyDeleteI think I'll take my chances and stay clear of the cramp they put in our toothpaste. Why not do a study and fluoride and how it is a KNOWN cancer causing agent. Baking soda's "problems" don't sound so bad when compared to cancer!!
ReplyDeleteyes, if you have some information to share you can share it here: http://blog.toothygrinsstore.com/2013/06/what-do-you-think-about-fluoride-use.html
Deletethere also 15 or so other comments there about fluoride
One swallow dies not a summer make, your conclusions are completely outweighed by the opposite opinion. I'll tell you this, I suffered from gingivitis for a long time and tried all sort of recommended potins and the like and were a waste of time baking soda cleared it up within 3 weeks. Also when you use baking soda plaque is noticeable by its absence. You done have to use baking soda EVERY day just a couple of times a week if you feel its too abrasive which it isn't for me
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your experience. have you noticed any gum recession?
DeleteI cant understand why people are so stupid to brush with anything with Flouride in it. It is a toxic substance. Ridiculous. The only people who want to use this are Monsanto and Dupont.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Deleteflouride protects our teeth.
DeleteProve it. There is no way you can besides the ADA said so. Flouride, among other things, is being disposed of through various methods such as water and toothpaste under the guise of being somehow beneficial as it was deemed poisonous for anything living and could not be disposed of directly into any part of the environment. So now they make money off of poisoning the ignorant. Do your research.
DeletePeople of the State of New York vs Sean Dix....ongoing case.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI think that people may be focusing a little too much on "Abrasiveness measurements". I can clean my sink with baking soda, but the higher 'abrasive' toothpastes can't make my sink clean.
DeleteIn addition, consider that the observed recession may not have come from any abrasiveness factor. Perhaps there is another factor such as the strong alkaline nature of baking soda.
Try thinking about this from other angles. All I see anyone doing here is talking about abrasiveness.
You cannot discount the experience of someone with 30 years of clinical experience so easily. Think about it folks. Think about it carefully.
I have been brushing my teeth with a homemade baking soda mixture (diluted-not straight baking soda) for some time now. Without dental insurance, it was several years since I had been to the dentist. Last month was my first dental visit (since I obtained insurance) in awhile. The dentist could not believe that it had been so long since my last visit. I had very little staining, virtually no tartar buildup and she said my gum test was EXCELLENT. She said that she rarely sees patients with such great upkeep and just couldn't believe how well taken care of my teeth were.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am still wary of using baking soda on my teeth. As mentioned previously, there have been few empirical studies conducted and there is always the inevitable question of bias in any study with clear ties to "special interests."
This has obviously worked wonderfully so far for me but ONLY because I insist on using a soft bristle brush, brushing EXTREMELY gently and rinsing very thoroughly with water after brushing. I have noticed that STRAIGHT,undiluted baking soda will irritate gums a bit if you're not rinsing properly with water afterward. Otherwise, I have experienced no tangible harm from this regimen.
However, I appreciate your perspective. I believe that the doctor is "still out" on this one so to say, and until unbiased, thorough empirical studies are conducted, at this point all we have is speculation and individual accounts to guide our practices.
Thank you for sharing that. It sounds like a very sensible approach. Amazing to hear that your periodontal health was still excellent after that much time!
Deleteone question I have, have you noticed any gum recession since you have been using the baking soda?
Hi anonymous. Will you share how many times you brush your teeth with the diluted baking soda? Do you think it will be effective in helping my teeth whiten if I use it once a week? Thank you.
DeleteHi Dave, it is "err " not "error " on the side of caution.
DeleteFair enough. Err it is.
Deletedave if you read that carefully she said she passed her gum test.So no she don't got no gum recession
DeleteActually, gum health and gum recession are not necessarily related. You can have healthy gums and still have recession. On the other hand, having unhealthy gums can also lead to recession.
DeleteI've been dipping my soft toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide and then into baking soda for about 20 years. I had some gum recession BEFORE that, but it has NOT increased one iota since. I use diluted food grade peroxide & non-aluminum-containing baking soda. I also rinse very thoroughly after brushing. I use it every day; can't stand the sugary, artificial taste of commercial toothpaste.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like the Keyes Method. Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm glad to hear that the recession has not increased.
DeleteI had never heard of the Keyes Method before! I just looked it up...interesting. I don't know if it makes any difference, but I'm also a vegan.
DeleteYes it is interesting to read about. There is University Chair based on the Keyes method. But I forget which University.
DeleteI saw that. I forget which university, too. :)
DeleteI think it is Temple University in PA.
DeleteI personally buy a special dental product made with mainly sodium bicarbonate. I don't get stained teeth so I use it three times in a week and then stop for a few months because i don't need it. I use herbal/menthol non-flouride toothpastes the rest of the time. I always get compliments on my teeth.
ReplyDeleteI struggle to see how it can be abrasive. It has a hardness of 2.5... softer than chalk (3). Silica is added to lots of other toothpastes and has a hardness of 6 or 7!! Tooth enamel is 5. I think any abrasive effect is down to brushing style.
i am really confused i didnt tried it still but i want whiter teeth is bleaching from dentist is safer than this please someone answer me????????????
ReplyDeletemy personal opinion would be that it is much safer to use baking soda than it is to get them whitened at the dentist! i believe that the methods of modern dentists, like most medical professionals, is to sell solutions that will have us coming back for more, rather than real long term solutions. Bleaching products are very corrosive - they eat away at the enamel much worse than brushing with undiluted baking soda and a hard brush/brushing technique, not to mention that sodium bicarbonate is not harmful when absorbed through the gums or swallowed, where as bleaching products, and just fluoride containing toothpastes in general have been shown to cause various health effects, and even negative effects on the teeth and gums.
DeleteI'm not a big fan of teeth whitening products either. The one burning question that remains for me is: Is the alkaline nature of the baking soda a problem - or does it cause problems? That's the big question I am wondering about.
DeleteAn alkaline environment in the body is ideal. Acidic environments are where diseases thrive. Soooo....
DeleteWhen our son was five the dentist said he had two cavities,one in each bottom molar. The dentist wanted to fill his teeth and scheduled an appointment for two weeks later.After that startling diagnoses I began researching cavities,their causes and prevention,and completely changed the way we cared for his teeth. We began giving him 20 minute oil pulls after each meal (he is raised and educated at home so this regiment of care is possible),we began having him drink two cups of warm,unsweetened greet tea (for the benefit of the enamel strengthening catechins which naturally occur in green tea) bis in die,and we took him off of regular toothpaste and began using baking soda with H2O2 after each oil pull in addition to flossing after every meal. Flash forward two years. We are still maintaining his oral care regiment complete with green tea and oil pulls. We took him to see another dentist in October of this year and the X rays were clear:no cavities anywhere in his mouth. The dentist said he has the whitest,healthiest teeth and gums teeth of any child he has ever seen in his 25 year practice. As for the cavities,if there really were any to begin with,the dentist said they must have remineralized. He was concerned that we were not using fluoride but after I showed him the printout I made of the research from Japan on green tea and the epigallo catechins for enamel support it peaked his interest. Our son has no negative reaction to baking soda and H2O2 outside of the fact that it took him almost two months to get used to the taste. He has no enamel damage,no tooth sensitivity, and no receding gums.The benefits have been whiter,healthier teeth,fresh breath and most importantly no cavities. We are convinced that baking soda and H2O2,flossing twice daily,oil pulls after each meal and green tea (unsweetened and added to warm water only,boiling water destroys the beneficial epigallo catechins) makes for the ultimate in oral care.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great share. Thank you very much for sharing your experiences for all to read. I've also been drinking green tea lately. It looks like matcha from Japan is a very interesting one.
DeleteRDA Dentifrice brand and variety Source
ReplyDelete07 straight baking soda Church & Dwight
08 Arm & Hammer Tooth Powder Church & Dwight
30 Elmex Sensitive Plus Elmex
35 Arm & Hammer Dental Care Church & Dwight
42 Arm & Hammer Advance White Baking Soda Peroxide Church & Dwight
44 Squigle Enamel Saver Squigle
48 Arm & Hammer Dental Care Sensitive Church & Dwight
49 Arm & Hammer Peroxicare Tartar Control Church & Dwight
49 Tom’s of Maine Sensitive (given as 40’s) Tom’s
52 Arm & Hammer Peroxicare Regular Church & Dwight
53 Rembrandt Original (RDA) Rembrandt
54 Arm & Hammer Dental Care PM Bold Mint Church & Dwight
57 Tom’s of Maine Children’s, Wintermint (given as mid-50’s) Tom’s
62 Supersmile Supersmile
63 Rembrandt Mint (‘Heffernan RDA’) Rembrandt
68 Colgate Regular Colgate-Palmolive
Great - thanks for sharing that great information. do you have a reference resource ? thanks in advance.
DeleteSince using baking soda, my husband and I have noticed that we don't have bad breath like we did with toothpaste. Our teeth are whiter also. You can try to convince others that baking soda is abrasive and dangerous but I know after doing my research that these are just scare tactics to keep consumers buying toothpaste and Dentist busy. I love how my teeth and gums feel now from using this cheap and natural tooth cleaning remedy...I'm never going to go back to costly, fluoride poisioning toothpaste again.
ReplyDeleteEveryone seems to agree that baking soda is good for the teeth, however there is a lot of controversy on how abrasive baking soda is. My opinion is to use it moderately as a consequence. Rather than using pure baking soda to brush your teeth, mix it with something else.
ReplyDeleteWhat I do, based on readings from various sources, is I mix half baking soda with half raw coconut oil. I then add to the mixture a bit of salt, and a few drops of some essential oils (like peppermint, eucalyptus, clove). Essential oils have anti-fungus and antibacterial properties among other things.
I decided to stop using commercial toothpaste after reading that they contain, among other things : sodium fluoride (very bad for health) and titanium dioxide (E141) which comes in nano particles. Nano particles are smaller than your red cells, and thus cannot be seen by your red cells. As a consequence, they wander in your body, and are not eliminated and will accumulate in your body, including in your brain. That can cause diseases such as Parkinson over the long term.
The mixture I mentioned uses ONLY natural, unprocessed stuff. So that cannot do any bad for health I guess.
Also, it is not just about what your toothpaste is made of. It is also about your diet. Avoid sodas and processed foods, which would accelerate tooth decay.
I can't tell yet how good my new toothpaste mixture is, as it is too early. I brush my teeth only once a day before going to bed, gently, and with a soft brush. I guess that will also limit the abrasiveness on my teeth.
Last thing is the mixture mentioned costs me a LOT less than commercial toothpaste. It costs me 4 times less for the same quantity.
I had some pretty serious gum erosion due to brushing too hard, and I experienced sensitivity as a result. Just to touch my tooth near the gum line with my fingernail provoked a sharp pain.
ReplyDeleteThen I switched to a homemade coconut oil/baking soda toothpaste. After a period of time, I noticed that my sensitivity was completely gone, even if I touched the previously painful areas near the gum line. My husband had favorable results as well.
I now use a tooth powder consisting of bentonite clay, baking soda and xylitol with peppermint oil. It's easier to use in various temperatures than the coconut oil type. I have had consistently favorable results and use it with my children--I like that I don't have to worry if they swallow it.
The only reason I am searching this topic is that their dentist said today that baking soda was too abrasive for tooth enamel. I'm not so sure, so I am looking for info on the topic.
That said, the dental hygienists said it was rare to have a whole family of children with no cavities, and my children have never had any. And I have six children.
That's my experience.
very interesting, i'm glad you shared this. It gives people something to really think about.
DeleteDon't let David scare you. Its less abrasive than most toothpastes. its funny as they are even adding it to their brands now. ironic huh. fluoride is poison. Baking soda is great. Many of the elders of my family have used baking soda and they have full healthy teeth. Davids comments on every positive experience on this article has just been biased and closed minded. mostly because he may be a snake.
DeleteToday after brushing electrically with normal toothpaste for 4 minutes, I noticed some plaque residues. Then I tried baking soda on the electric toothbrush and after some minutes of brushing, what I spat out was very yellow. After that, I overdid it 3 more times, because I tried to remove the hardened plaque, but it didn't go, gum started to bleed, because I pressed too hard. Gonna get my teeth fixed (got about 10 cavities on the surface because I was unable to remove plaque, which attracted more and became hard as stone, until I loosened itself, leaving a nice hole underneath), and keep using baking soda, because it cleans way better than normal toothpaste in my experience. Normal toothpaste didn't prevent my teeth becoming yellow, baking soda removed most yellow at first use.
ReplyDeleteIn reply to myself: have been brushing for a month with baking soda and now my front teeth have spots of missing enamel (couldn't see other teeth well) . The low rda is a lie, it definitely abrades or else the pastes with addes baking powder wouldn't be rated so high. also, if it is good for removing calculus which I've noticed, imagine what it does with your enamel.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your experience - both times!
DeleteHaving used baking soda for 10 years (stopped a few years ago) I can report that it did a number on my teeth but not so much my gums. My teeth are green now and there was a time they looked great. Bottom line is I think I overbrushed and was way too energetic when brushing. I was waiting for this feeling of 'absolute clean' and sometimes it would be 3 minutes of hard brushing. The enamel took a beating and my teeth look like a smokers! I do drink alot of tea and coffee sometimes but I don't think thaey should be in this state. Im back to using regular toothpastes and it seems I cannot get my teeth white again. Bummer man! I have not discovered a 'whitening' toothpaste yet that has helped me restore whiteness and I'm scared of using those adhesive strips as my teeth are sensitive now.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for sharing your thoughts and experience. I hope that others will be able to read what you have to say and will realize that there are more points of views and perspectives to look out when evaluating this topic. Thanks again for sharing.
Deletehello i am a periodontist and i can tell you i use baking soda a very small dip with my tooth paste for years and it works great it removes all the plaque plus there have been many studies to show that rinsing with baking soda water is excellent for the gums because it neutralizes the acids of the mouth it is well know in the literature as the "keys" technique dr keyes was a dentist who worked for many many years at the national institute of health in Washington Dc and has published many papers on that topics. He proved that rinsing with baking sod solution is excellent for removal of plaque material and if not it cuts it down and prevents gum disease
ReplyDeletedon't listen to quacks who want to sell you other things
periodntist with Ph.D also
periodntist
I'm wondering if anyone of these people experiencing problems was using too much force, or brushing too often? I'm just starting this baking powder regimen, as I'm tired of trying to find a sensitive teeth toothpaste that doesn't seem to work anyway. So far I've seen fair points from each side, but I've learned that people can be persuaded to speak in favour of these. I understand that you might not want to distrust your dentist, especially with 30 years of experience, but this merely brings me back to my first point about pressure and frequency. Perhaps next time you write such a bold article you could provide more details?
ReplyDelete(I'll try to remember to share my experience, as I see that you've asked that of many others here)
Thanks for the offer to come back and share your experience. I think that is where the real value is. If each person would do that, we could collect enough subjective experience for people to make their own choices and possibly to know what to look out for (if anything)
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't blame your dentist, because that is the way they are taught and guided to experience. Take up any experienced doctor and they would say what they are guided to experience. The guide may be a pharma industry or their sales rep who periodically knock their doors or their own colleagues. These are the main sources of knowledge for any doctor and over the years this knowledge becomes experience and statements. Well in our part we are returning to our old ways, as we are becoming more unhealthy than our grandparents. But yes we have to find out from our granparents what is they did for brushing.
I think it's probably important to note the "how" rather than the "what" in brushing teeth. We as a society have a tendency to brush too hard. Perhaps if you choose to use baking soda, there just needs to be a more conscious attitude when brushing... so you don't brush away those helpful gums. Anyone can have receding gums. We need not blame baking soda.
ReplyDeleteHey, I just wanted to say that this is a really well written article. Can't believe the amount of negativity it's solicited when it clearly states the information's subjective!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for recognizing that and for saying so! I just try to endure the negative comments, but it is nice to know that at least one person understands what this article is about and the purpose of it - so thank you for speaking up. :)
DeleteI think your on to something. I've been making my own mouthwash which consists of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, and I was fine when I diluted it in a lot of water but I recently started adding more baking soda and changed my toothpaste to a whitening one. My gums started changing color and they're receding. Diluting it in something is okay but too much isn't good.
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ReplyDeleteDefinitely subjective. But "important" is probably a stretch...
ReplyDeleteI always use baking soda to brush my teeth I have no more tooth pain at all and I don’t get canker sores anymore. My teeth look great. I just don’t push that hard, even toothpaste is abrasive to your teeth when you first put it in your mouth don’t push so hard he’s a gentle touch.
ReplyDeleteWell my name is zak Sikorski,and recently I've come in contact with a pain in my mouth that has caused me to have a migraine for what had been 45 days straight that was a few days ago now the pain isn't completely gone but it has subsided since I started using a baking soda and salt water mix salt to draw out whatever is in your mouth and baking soda too heal your mouth too it's original state and it's been working great I do this about 4 times a day 2 teaspoons of baking soda 1 teaspoon of salt mixed into a full glass of very warm water and I mouth wash with the whole glass untill it is all gone it has proven a safe alternative to medicine I've tried everything from hydrocodone,and oxycodone,too oxycotton and none of it worked till I tried the salt and baking soda
ReplyDeleteSo, I made my own mouth rinse that consisted of peroxide and baking soda. Then it started irritating my gums really bad. I had to stop. Also, I noticed receding but I don't have tarter or build up. I agree with the author of this article. Baking soda and peroxide can cause damage, you have to exercise caution. Maybe it can be used but not I'm not sure it's supposed to be used long-term in your mouth. It does whiten your teeth though. However, what's the point of white teeth with receding gums?
ReplyDeleteI've been using baking soda only for maybe 1-2 years. Before that I used Vicco paste (before that fluoride toothpaste) until I learned Vicco is in an SLS base. Since switching to baking soda my receding gums have been reversing (dentist measures them when I get a cleaning).
ReplyDeleteI have no sensitivity now, whereas I occasionally had sensitivity especially to cold items before (this could just be related to getting older).
Baking soda seems to work well for me, but then uneducated people keep telling me it's too abrasive. Also, I used to have great color but since starting to take a powder probiotic, the pearls have gotten stained to the point that H2O2 doesn't whiten them much anymore, and they look like I've been a chronic tea drinker. So I'm not sure what to think about that.