Baking Soda is often used by people at home to whiten or clean teeth. Since it has abrasive properties it is really important to know how to brush your teeth using baking soda in order to avoid accidental dental damage or erosion. It is also a good idea to consult a professional dentist before trying out any dental procedures on your own.
Using baking soda to brush teeth has its benefits like natural teeth whitening and teeth stain removing benefits, for example. If you would like to try cleaning or whitening your teeth with baking soda, read the following steps and tips on ‘how to brush your teeth using baking soda’.
Tips to Brush Your Teeth using Baking Soda
Use a Small Amount
Mix some baking soda with a little water to make a paste. Try not to make it too watery or it will seep off the bristles of your toothbrush. You will only need to use a very small amount of this mixture to brush your teeth (a little baking soda goes a long way).
If you use too much, you could inadvertently damage your teeth. Moreover, too much baking soda paste can make you feel queasy if it floods your mouth. It is alright if you accidently swallow a little as it is a cooking ingredient after all.
Once you’ve loaded your brush with baking soda paste begin to brush your molars and finish up with your front teeth (not forgetting to brush the back of your teeth). Brush using circular motions and be extra careful and gentler while brushing than you normally would be.
It’s generally not good to brush too hard but it’s really inadvisable to brush hard or carelessly when brushing your teeth using baking soda as baking soda can take your enamel off if you aren’t careful. Moreover, you could also damage your gums if you brush too hard.
Gargle and Rinse Thoroughly
After you have finished brushing your teeth thoroughly, you can gargle and rinse. When you brush your teeth using baking soda, you have to make sure you rinse your mouth out properly until your teeth lose that gritty feel (baking soda feels a little gritty) as you do not want to have your teeth soaking in remnants of baking soda paste.
It could damage your teeth. This is especially important if you have slightly sensitive teeth or gums. You can give your mouth a final rinse with a mild mouthwash if you dislike the taste of baking soda. It is best to refrain from brushing with toothpaste immediately after using baking soda.
Brushing with baking soda can be used to great effect if you have light staining on the teeth. For heavy staining (brownish teeth) it is best to have cleaning done at a dental clinic (bleaching). While many people believe that they can use baking soda once or twice a week or as a replacement for fluoride or herbal toothpaste, it is really not advisable to use baking soda more than once or twice a year.
It also cannot serve as a replacement to fluoride toothpaste as it cannot protect your teeth. In fact it is best to use baking soda for whitening or cleaning your teeth only when you’re in a hurry to whiten your teeth or don’t want to spend money on getting it professionally cleaned. It is also recommended that you do not brush your teeth using baking soda if you have very sensitive teeth and gums and if you use braces or retainers.