Since ancient times, brushing with salt and baking soda has been common among people, and of course, this habit has been common in the world.
Harms of Baking Soda for Teeth
Everyone wants bright teeth to complement their smile. Some people believe that brushing their teeth with baking soda can give them that smile and sometimes it is promoted as a more effective way to remove stains than toothpaste. Does this home product have side effects? Does the frequent use of this material damage the teeth in the long term? To answer these questions, you must know the harm of baking soda on teeth, which has been thoroughly and thoroughly reviewed in this article.
What Is Baking Soda?
Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda is an abrasive compound that can remove the stains caused by tea, coffee, smoking, etc. to enter compensation to even destroy the teeth.
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Brushing with Salt
Ingredients of salt
Table salt is composed of sodium and chlorine (NaCl). This ionic composition is one of the important things for regulating body metabolism, correct muscle function, and transmission of nerve messages throughout the body, but using more than five grams of salt per day causes high blood pressure and osteoporosis.
Dentists always recommend the use of toothpaste, while traditional medicine experts emphasize the use of salt instead of toothpaste. Which is the best way to have healthy and beautiful teeth? Not a day goes by that we don’t hear news about the harm of chemicals. Sometimes it is possible to replace these materials with natural materials, for example, we can use salt instead of toothpaste. In the past, this method was used to clean teeth, but can salt have the same function as toothpaste? If this question has occupied your mind, stay with us.
The Types of Salts that Can Replace Toothpaste
- Fortified salt: This type of salt is enriched with micronutrients needed by the body, including iodine.
- Sea salt: This type of salt is produced by the evaporation of sea, ocean, and lake water. Therefore, it contains different mineral substances that affect its color and taste.
In general, it doesn’t matter what kind of salt you use to brush your teeth. Because in the end you return the salt and wash your mouth. Therefore, if you are careful, you will not eat any amount of salt.
If you use coarse-grained salt for brushing, you should grind it until it becomes smooth and uniform. Because the use of coarse salt destroys tooth enamel and damages the gums.
Harms of Baking Soda for Teeth
Although baking soda has many benefits, it may do more harm than good to your teeth. Brushing too much with baking soda is bad for the health of your teeth for the following reasons:
It Damages The Enamel of The Teeth
This combination’s abrasiveness can weaken the teeth’ outer covering or the enamel, making the teeth more sensitive to hot or cold temperatures and making brushing alone painful. Since it cannot be repaired after damage, it is essential to avoid using any chemicals such as baking soda that destroy this layer.
Removes Adhesive and Orthodontic Connections
If you have had your teeth orthodontic, you should know that baking soda can weaken and soften the glue or joints of the teeth and eventually destroy them.
It Causes Sensitivity
Baking soda may be allergic to some people, especially women, as a result, it may cause rashes and sores on the palate, gums, tongue, and lips. Burning, itching or pain may occur due to mucosal irritation. Also, bleeding gums are not impossible.
It Increases The Risk of Decay
Improper use of baking soda increases the possibility of tooth decay because it weakens it against bacteria by destroying the tooth’s protective layers.
Does Not Remove Deep Stains
While the abrasiveness of baking soda may remove some stains on the surface of your teeth, it does not affect deep-seated stains.
Not Enough to Fight Cavities
Baking soda alone is not enough to remove plaque and prevent cavities. Experts believe that baking soda alone is not able to fight cavities because it cannot destroy bacteria, which eventually leads to an increase in plaque.
It Does Not Contain Fluoride
Fluoride strengthens teeth and prevents cavities. Considering that baking soda does not contain this compound, it can make your teeth vulnerable to cavities over time.
By examining these cases, we found that improper use of baking soda instead of cleaning the teeth may even lead to severe pain in the teeth. If you want to remove plaque more effectively, gentle brushing with standard toothpaste is all you need.
Benefits of Brushing with Salt
The most important benefits of brushing teeth with salt can be mentioned:
- Prevent tooth decay
- Gum strengthening against germs
- Reducing the sensitivity of the tooth nerve to heat and cold
- Disinfection of oral wounds
- Relieve sore throat
- Fight bad breath
- Eliminate tooth and gum infection
- Reduce toothache
- Economical compared to toothpaste
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Side Effects of Brushing with Salt
Some of the side effects of replacing toothpaste with salt are:
- Loss of tooth enamel due to the coarseness of the salt
- The possibility of swallowing some of the salt
- Possible damage to the gums
Caution
Rinsing your mouth with salt water and spitting it out is harmless, but swallowing large amounts of it can be harmful. According to the medical biochemistry of “Human Fuel and Structure in Health and Disease”, consuming too much salt water leads to dehydration, and if the water is too salty, it may cause vomiting. Swallowing some salt water is not a big problem and is sometimes recommended for washing the intestines and stomach, but consuming too much salt can lead to high blood pressure.
However, people should know that toothbrushes and dental floss are the best way to keep teeth white, and if the result of using them is not to your liking and you want whiter teeth, it is better to visit a dentist to get them in less dangerous ways.
