Dentrifice is a powder used to clean teeth. Researchers shows that baking soda dentifrice offers many potential benefits that could make it a good addition to your oral care routine.
Low abrasivity of baking soda dentifrices
When a toothpaste product is produced, it must be approved by FDA before selling to the public. One of the test conducted is to determine its RDA value (radioactive dentin abrasion or relative dentin abrasivity), which indicates the abrasive potential of a dentifrice. The following numbers are RDA values of toothpaste:
0-70 = low abrasive 70-100 = medium abrasive 100+ =highly abrasive
The RDA value of baking soda alone is 7 and most of baking soda dentifrices is relatively non-abrasive; therefore, the use of baking soda dentifrices provides a measure of safety to enamel and dentin.
Effect on plaque acidity
Plaque is a sticky film containing millions of bacteria that build up on teeth. The bacteria found in plaque could cause cavities, tooth decay, and even gum disease if you don’t remove the plaque regularly by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing. The bacteria consume the sugars and starches from your food and create acid that destroys your tooth enamel. Researchers has shown that baking soda can neutralize the acids in your mouth, thereby reducing the amount of harmful bacteria. It helps maintaining an alkaline oral pH to make the environment of the oral cavity healthier.
Effect on tooth whitening and stain removal
Teeth are often prone to discoloration due to contact with dark-colored drinks such as red wine, coffee, tea and smoking cigarettes. In addition, with poor hygiene, plaque may accumulate and cause a yellow-brown discoloration. Literature has shown that baking soda-based dentifrices are safe for teeth whitening and stain removal and more effective than other non-baking soda dentifrices with higher abrasivity. Furthermore, baking soda neutralizes the acid caused by bacteria in your mouth thus fighting bad breath.
Effect on gingival health
Gum disease, also known as gingivitis, is one of the most prevalent oral health conditions across the country. It is a result of an accumulation of plaque on the teeth. It is characterized by sore, swollen, bleeding or infected gums and bad breath. Baking soda is an affordable treatment for gum disease. Multiple clinical studies have shown that baking soda prevents the formation of plaque and reduces the chances of gingivitis and tooth decay by neutralizing the acids in the mouth.
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Reference
The Journal of the American Dental Associtation. Nov 2017 Vol 148 No.115