Everyone dreams of having healthy and snow-white teeth. But, unfortunately, professional whitening in the dental office can be too expensive. For this reason, many, wanting to save money, decide to whiten their teeth using folk methods on their own. One of the most popular methods in this case is home whitening with baking soda.
Finding soda is not difficult. Baking soda (scientifically sodium bicarbonate) is available at your local grocery store and is available in every kitchen. But the safety of its use for brightening tooth enamel is still worth thinking about.
Pros and cons of whitening teeth with baking soda
It should be noted that this whitening method is one of the most common for home use, which means that it is really effective. Many people after the first use of the product achieve a visible effect.
Among the main advantages of the method are:
- low cost;
- visible result after the first procedure;
- The procedure can be performed at home on your own.
You can use soda to lighten your teeth no more than 1 time in 7-10 days. Thus, it will not be able to harm the teeth. If the method is abused, it can cause significant damage to the enamel and thin it, which over time can lead to caries and tooth hypersensitivity.
The disadvantages and side effects of the method include:
- soda can brighten teeth for a short time;
- during the procedure, only the upper layers of the tooth are whitened;
- thins tooth enamel;
- can cause bleeding gums ;
- in some cases, it can become an impetus for the appearance of allergic reactions on the skin in the lip area;
- has an irritating effect on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity;
- due to the fact that in the process of lightening the enamel becomes thinner, over time, hypersensitivity of the teeth to sour, hot, cold and sweet can develop.
How to lighten tooth enamel with baking soda?
To lighten tooth enamel, you can use pure soda powder or make a saturated solution out of it. The liquid is considered concentrated and ready for use if the next portion of soda has ceased to dissolve in it.
To perform the procedure, you will also need a toothbrush, cotton pad or gauze swab. They need to be moistened in the prepared liquid and brush your teeth, brush or cotton pad, while you do not need to press hard. If you decide to use pure soda powder, then gauze or a cotton swab must first be moistened with water. Since soda has an unpleasant taste, the powder can be mixed with toothpaste to get rid of it. Many people even prefer to make their own baking soda-based whitening toothpastes at home. Although here it is necessary to adhere to some nuances. For example, these pastes should include gentle substances, such as eucalyptus powder.
The mechanism of action of the powder is very simple. Solid particles of soda have an abrasive effect on the teeth and remove plaque and a thin layer of enamel from them. As a result, a person returns the natural whiteness of the teeth.
In addition to soda, for the same purpose, you can use other substances that have similar properties, stiffness and lack of toxic effects on the body. So, to lighten your teeth, you can use activated charcoal, the tablets of which must first be erased into powder. However, after brushing your teeth in this way, reddening of the gums may occur. In addition, they may start to bleed. But don't worry. This is a temporary side effect that usually goes away after a day or two.
Teeth whitening with baking soda and lemon juice
If you have never had problems with your teeth and you have strong enamel, you can use the following method. Before each time you brush your teeth with baking soda powder, drip 5-7 drops of lemon juice into it. This will greatly enhance the lightening effect. However, you should not abuse this method, since with frequent use, citric acid can lead to irreversible changes and serious consequences.
conclusions
If you whiten your teeth with soda, maintaining intervals between procedures, then unpleasant consequences can be avoided. In no case should soda be used by people who naturally have thin enamel and increased tooth sensitivity .
Whatever it was, but the most correct solution would be teeth whitening in the dental office. Before the procedure, the doctor will conduct a review, if necessary, prescribe treatment and possibly identify contraindications. In addition, the doctor uses only those whitening methods that cannot harm the patient's teeth. So in modern dentistry, a sandblasting machine is widely used. During this procedure, the dentist not only whitens, but also polishes and strengthens the teeth. Although this method also has disadvantages, including the relatively high cost and the possibility of carrying out only in the doctor's office.
