Benefits of Baking Soda for Teeth
Cavities, or dental decay, is common among all cultures and nearly everyone is at risk of forming them. Dental professionals spend their entire careers treating and trying to help their patients to prevent cavities from forming.
Carbohydrates in our food are broken down by bacteria in our mouth when we eat. An acid is formed in the process. These acids cause minerals in the teeth to be lost, forming a soft spot, or cavity.
We can reduce the risk and formation of cavities by reducing consumption of foods containing sucrose, or common sugar; by cleaning food particles, or food film from our teeth after we eat; by applying fluoride to our teeth, which helps to increase calcium uptake by our teeth to replace minerals that may have been lost; and to reduce the acid levels in our mouth.
The mildly abrasive qualities of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) can be applied to oral hygiene. A paste of bicarbonate of soda (Baking Soda) and water can be used as a simple toothpaste to keep teeth clean and white. For those who wish to avoid fluoride in toothpastes, bicarbonate of soda is fluoride-free. To freshen the breath, swish and spit a quick rinse of one teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda in a half a glass of water. http://www.livestrong.com/article/110287-health-benefits-bicarbonate-soda/
Another method of applying baking soda is to place your favorite toothpaste on your brush, then dip the brush into baking soda. The sticky toothpaste will pick up some baking soda.
You may also mix baking soda (1tsp), hydrogen peroxide (1/4 tsp), and lemon zest or a drop of peppermint oil to make your own toothpaste.
In addition to the abrasive qualities of baking soda, which helps to clean food from our teeth, baking soda also lowers the acid levels in our mouth to help reduce the risk of cavities.