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At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- PubMed.gov: The comparative efficacy of stabilized stannous fluoride dentifrice, peroxide/baking soda dentifrice and essential oil mouthrinse for the prevention of gingivitis.
- PubMed.gov: The comparative efficacy of stabilized stannous fluoride dentifrice, peroxide/baking soda dentifrice and essential oil mouthrinse for the prevention of gingivitis.
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Baking Soda & Gum Disease
During an early part of the 20th century, baking soda was an integral part of teeth cleaning regimen for many as a way to ward off tooth and gum infections. Today, many toothpaste manufacturers market baking soda toothpastes. Unfortunately, evidence suggests baking soda has no therapeutic value as a gum disease-fighting agent.
Gum Diseases
For years the dental community promoted the notion that baking soda could help fight periodontal disease and gingivitis by reducing mouth acidity while cleaning. Periodontal disease occurs when bacterial laden plaque infect the gums and eventually cause gums to recede. According to HealthWorld Online, periodontal disease affects about 20 percent of adults in the United States today.
Gingivitis usually precedes periodontal disease, and occurs when gums become red, tender and swollen and require intense cleaning efforts.
- For years the dental community promoted the notion that baking soda could help fight periodontal disease and gingivitis by reducing mouth acidity while cleaning.
- Gingivitis usually precedes periodontal disease, and occurs when gums become red, tender and swollen and require intense cleaning efforts.
Baking Soda & Peroxide
Tooth Pain After a Dental Cleaning
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Toothpaste manufacturers often mix peroxide with baking soda, and market the notion that baking soda will cleanse while peroxide will whiten. While these two ingredients will fizz when combined, Dentistry.com notes this bubbling activity does not have any therapeutic value.
The Evidence
Dentists in the U.S. promoted the Keyes Technique during the late 1970s and early 1980s, and advised patients to brush their teeth with a combination of salt, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. A late 1980s study showed that while the baking soda mixture did a good job of maintaining oral health it was no more effective than standard toothpaste treatments. A second study conducted by the Indiana University Oral Health Research Institute in 1997 went further, and showed that baking soda did not work as well as fluoride toothpastes to help control plaque, gingivitis and gingivitis bleeding
Nostalgic Value & Sentiment
Can You Whiten Teeth With Orange Peels?
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Many people appear to simply prefer baking soda as a teeth and gum cleaning agent. According to Dentistry.com’s interview with San Pablo, CA dentist William van Dyk, this is because:
- baking soda makes teeth feel good while remaining a “product of nostalgia.” American Dental Association Scientific Affairs Senior Director Ken Burrell
- D.D.S.
- goes further
- states that people purchase baking soda strictly for sentimental reasons [3](https://www.dentistry.com/ 'inline-reference::Dentistry.com: Baking Soda ToothpasteGets Points for Nostalgia
- But That's About It')
Cancer Treatment Benefits
Baking soda may have some therapeutic oral health benefit for patients going through cancer treatment. According to the American Dental Association, patients who undergo cancer treatment must often manage painful oral side effects that injure the teeth, gums and salivary glands. The ADA recommends cancer patients rinse their mouth out several times daily with a mixture made from one-quarter teaspoon of baking soda, a one-eighth teaspoon of salt, and one cup of warm water.
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References
- eNotAlone.com: Gum Disease : Anti-Plaque Mouthwashes, Baking Soda
- PubMed.gov: The comparative efficacy of stabilized stannous fluoride dentifrice, peroxide/baking soda dentifrice and essential oil mouthrinse for the prevention of gingivitis.
- Dentistry.com: Baking Soda ToothpasteGets Points for Nostalgia, But That's About It
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem. Compound Summary for CID 516892, Sodium bicarbonate.
- Hadzic M, Eckstein ML, Schugardt M. The impact of sodium bicarbonate on performance in response to exercise duration in athletes: A systematic review. J Sports Sci Med. 2019;18(2):271-281
- Ciancio SG. Baking soda dentifrices and oral health. J Am Dent Assoc. 2017;148(11S):S1-S3. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2017.09.009
- Birt D, From L, Main J. Diagnosis and management of long-standing benign oral ulceration. Laryngoscope. 1980 May;90(5 Pt 1):758-68. PMID: 6990140.
- American College of Gastroenterology. Acid reflux.
- Hughes A, Brown A, Valento M. Hemorrhagic encephalopathy from acute baking soda ingestion. West J Emerg Med. 2016;17(5):619-22. doi:10.5811/westjem2016.6.30713
- Al-Abri SA, Olson KR. Baking soda can settle the stomach but upset the heart: Case files of the Medical Toxicology Fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. J Med Toxicol. 2013;9(3):255-8. doi:10.1007/s13181-013-0300-4
- Krustrup P, Ermidis G, Mohr M. Sodium bicarbonate intake improves high-intensity intermittent exercise performance in trained young men. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015;12:25. doi:10.1186/s12970-015-0087-6
- McNaughton LR, Siegler J, Midgley A. Ergogenic effects of sodium bicarbonate. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2008;7(4):230-6. doi:10.1249/JSR.0b013e31817ef530
- de Brito-Ashurst I, Varagunam M, Raftery MJ, Yaqoob MM. Bicarbonate supplementation slows progression of CKD and improves nutritional status. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009;20(9):2075-84. doi:10.1681/ASN.2008111205
- Yang M, Zhong X, Yuan Y. Does baking soda function as a magic bullet for patients with cancer? A mini review. Integr Cancer Ther. 2020;19:1534735420922579. doi:10.1177/153473542092257
- Yang T, Doherty J, Zhao B, Kinchla AJ, Clark JM, He L. Effectiveness of commercial and homemade washing agents in removing pesticide residues on and in apples. J Agric Food Chem. 2017;65(44):9744-9752. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.7b03118
- Qamaruz-Zaman N, Kun Y, Rosli RN. Preliminary observation on the effect of baking soda volume on controlling odour from discarded organic waste. Waste Manag. 2015;35:187-90. doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2014.09.017
- Al-Abri SA, Kearney T. Baking soda misuse as a home remedy: case experience of the California Poison Control System. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2014;39(1):73-7. doi:10.1111/jcpt.12113
- Di Iorio BR, Bellasi A, Raphael KL, Santoro D, Aucella F, Garofano L, Ceccarelli M, Di Lullo L, Capolongo G, Di Iorio M, Guastaferro P, Capasso G; UBI Study Group. Treatment of metabolic acidosis with sodium bicarbonate delays progression of chronic kidney disease: the UBI Study. J Nephrol. 2019;32(6):989-1001. doi:10.1007/s40620-019-00656-5
Writer Bio
Based in Charlotte, N.C., Virginia Franco has more than 15 years experience freelance writing. Her work has appeared in various print and online publications, including the education magazine "My School Rocks" and Work.com. Franco has a master's degree in social work with an emphasis in health care from the University of Maryland and a journalism degree from the University of Richmond.