How to Whiten Teeth With Baking Soda : The Definitive Guide

Getting that sparkling smile is no hustle in the modern world. There are are a ton of whitening products available for you in the market ranging from Home remedies, professional products, Over the Counter (OTC) remedies like whitening strips, toothpastes, whitening rinses, tray-based whiteners and many more. But usually the professional whitening kits come with a price tag that will simply frown at your bank account and you might want to go for  cheaper options. Worry not, you got covered.

 Today I am going to show you how to use one of the most popular home remedy for whitening teeth; Baking soda! It is the easiest teeth whitening product to use at home and it also sales at insanely low prices; hardly more than $2.

And before we get into the fleshy details, let us get to know what exactly is baking soda so we will be sure what we are getting ourselves into and whether this is the best option for you to whiten your teeth at home.

What is baking soda? 

 Otherwise referred to as Sodium bicarbonate or Sodium hydrogen carbonate, Baking soda is a crystalline white solid that often appears as white powder. It is chemically produced by passing carbon dioxide through sodium carbonate to produce the crystal white solid.

 The crystals are dried and crushed to produce the white powder that is now the baking soda we know about. Baking soda reacts with both acids and bases, therefore chemically referred to as amphoteric.

 So why is baking soda used to whiten teeth?

 Being crystalline in nature, baking soda happens to be a mild abrasive that will easily scrub stains off your teeth when applied. Also being amphoteric, baking soda will neutralize the acids produce by the bacteria in your mouth therefore preventing teeth cavities.

 Here is a quick list of other qualities that make baking soda a good teeth whitener:

• It has an anti – bacterial property that kills bacteria.
• It has a mild abrasive property to remove the stains from teeth.
• It acts as natural teeth whitener and prevents the teeth from staining again.
• It releases free radicals when dissolved in water. If you apply this solution on teeth, then the free radicals will interact with the stain causing molecules on the teeth enamel.
• It also clears the plaque from teeth which in turn help to prevent teeth from decaying and freshens breath.
• It neutralizes the agents which are causing discoloration and foul odors. (Source: Home remedies for life) 

How to whiten your teeth with baking soda

Just using baking soda itself to whiten teeth can be very messy so it is usually mixed with water, lemon, e.t.c to make it easier to use.

We are going to look at the different ways which baking soda can be used to whiten teeth.

Baking soda with water

• Take exactly 1 teaspoon of baking soda and mix with clean water to make a thick paste
•  Using your regular toothbrush, take the based and use it to brush your teeth for no longer than 2 minutes. You can also use your fingers to directly apply the paste on your teeth  then brush. 
• Take caution not to brush for longer that two minutes. Baking soda is an abrasive and may erode your enamel. Use a soft brush and apply less force while concentrating on stained areas.
• Use clean water to thoroughly rinse your mouth. You can also use the regular mouth wash to do this. Make sure to rinse your brush too
• Do this three times a week. 
• You can also just dip a wet toothbrush into the baking soda and use it to brush your teeth. That is if you can withstand the strong taste that comes with using plain baking soda. 

Baking soda with strawberries  

• Crush one strawberry into a pulp
• Add baking soda to the pulp until it blends completely
• Spread the mixture on your teeth. You can use a toothbrush or just your fingers
• Wait for 3-5 minutes
• Rinse your teeth thoroughly and the brush with a regular toothpaste
• Floss out left over straw berry seeds on your teeth
• It is recommended that you repeat the procedure only once per week  

Baking Soda with hydrogen peroxide

• Take one tablespoon of baking soda and 2 table spoons of hydrogen peroxide
• Mix them to make a thick paste
• Use the paste to brush your teeth and leave it for about a minute before rinsing
• It is recommended that you thoroughly rinse and then brush your teeth with toothpaste after using this mixture. 
• Use for about 2-3 times a week.   

Note; Baking soda is an abrasive and should not be used too many times in a row to whiten teeth. Seek professional advice to see if your are eligible to use baking soda for brushing teeth. Some teeth maybe sensitive or have cavities and therefore should not be brushed with baking soda.