Introduction
Research findings from several dental reports and investigations suggest that a dentifrice containing baking soda as an abrasive would be more effective compared to commercially available dentifrices for controlling dental plaque or gingivitis (gum inflammation and disease). How true is this fact? Read this article to understand the rationale and uses of baking soda as an effective protector in tooth dentifrices.
How Does Dentifrice Protect the Teeth?
Dentifrice, also known as toothpaste, is a primary chemical plaque control measure used in conjunction with the mechanical form of plaque control, such as a toothbrush, to aid and maintain oral health. The most common components of the daily dentifrice usually include an abrasive agent, a binder, a surfactant, as well as a humectant. The main rationale behind using dentifrice is not only to remove debris and plaque deposits adhering to the tooth structure easily but also to freshen breath, sustain the color and hardness of the tooth enamel surface, and promote its anti-plaque and re-mineralizing functions. The common recommendation by dentists worldwide is that irrespective of age and gender, it is ideal to brush the teeth at least twice a day with a fluoridated dentifrice recommended by a registered dental practitioner to avail the best benefits of dentifrice. The main rationale, as elaborated earlier, is to prevent dental diseases like tooth decay or demineralization and dental plaque, the two major factors that initiate a range of other dental issues in individuals.
Why Is Baking Soda the Ideal Abrasive in a Dentifrice?
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According to the scientific investigation by Putt et al., the effect of varying concentrations of using baking soda (BS) in chemical oral plaque control agents, such as dentifrice, has been studied. The results suggest that there is certainly a positive relationship between the concentration of BS and the significant plaque reduction that patients experienced after using fluoridated dentifrices containing BS as an abrasive.
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Not all commercially sold whitening toothpastes are dentally recommended, as the potency of abrasiveness in them can strip the natural tooth minerals (calcium hydroxyapatite crystals in the enamel). On the other hand, dissolved bicarbonate ions in baking soda may bind with the calcium ions in the teeth, helping disrupt the mutual bond between oral bacteria and their adhesive molecular attachment to the tooth enamel surface. Furthermore, current research shows that bicarbonate ions negatively charge the enamel surface of the tooth, enhancing the detachment of bacteria easily owing to the neutralizing and alkali power of baking soda.
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The reason why dentists recommend the use of baking soda as a potentially less powerful abrasive (compared to other commercial abrasives used by dental manufacturers) is that the percentage of baking soda in a dentifrice in regard to its abrasiveness potential may be almost inverse. This indicates that, in comparison to most commercial abrasives used in toothpaste, the baking soda particle size or crystals, in short, are notably larger, with potentially less damaging potential due to its softness or soft adherence to the tooth minerals of enamel.
What Is the Mechanism of Action of Baking Soda for the Protection of Tooth Enamel?
Several dentifrice manufacturers now commonly incorporate sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda (BS), into their dentifrice composition formulas. Baking soda is essentially a salt composed of both sodium ions and bicarbonate ions. BS is known to have a non-toxic effect on gingiva or gums and is also known to exert only a mild effect on the soft tissues of the oral cavity, such as the oral mucosal membranes. In commercial dentifrices, BS is usually added to the composition of the dentifrice to serve the purpose of an abrasive.
Research studies on "relative dentin abrasion" tests conducted in individuals have shown that the abrasive potential of sodium bicarbonate is quite low, indicating low abrasion on the tooth surface. This advantage arises because it is an alkaline substance that is potently capable of neutralizing acids. Under this effect, dental caries initiated by bacterial pathogens, such as Streptococcus mutans species, can be possibly prevented from thriving in an acidic atmosphere, consequently preventing tooth decay when BS is added to the dentifrice composition for its neutralizing power of the acids. BS furthermore has the potency to neutralize the acidic components of our common tooth that range from food sources or beverages, as well as staining chemicals like the chromogens found in coffee, tea, red wine, etc. Hence, current dental research investigation reveals the capability of BS to lessen the staining potential of such chromogens via food as well as on the tooth surface.
What Are the Keyes Technique and the Use of Baking Soda in Modern Dentifrice?
The widespread use of baking soda (BS) in modern-day dentifrice manufacturing, as well as in-home oral hygiene regimens, can be largely attributed to the impact created by revered Dr. Paul H. Keyes in the early 1970s. He demonstrated that BS holds potency as an anti‐infective agent through microbiological testing and recommended its use as an adjunct in dentifrices or other chemical control agents in routine non‐surgical periodontal therapy. Similarly, the recommendation to include BS, for instance, in inpatient home irrigation or along with salt solutions, or brushing with a mix of BS and hydrogen peroxide, is commonly referred to in dentistry as “the Keyes technique." Care should be taken, however, for individuals who currently brush only with baking soda or salt, as this can possibly be non-beneficial to teeth when used alone without fluoride incorporation (which is why commercially fluoridated dentifrices or toothpaste are dentally recommended).
Conclusion
According to the critical evaluation and information provided by the American Academy of Periodontology, the scientific rationale for maintaining oral health at home is to practice the habit of toothbrushing at least twice a day with a fluoridated dentifrice. Fluoride incorporation in the dentifrice is a universal recommendation for adjunct or personal oral care. Hence, the rationale applies to incorporating a larger-sized and softer abrasive into a fluoridated dentifrice like baking soda (BS) than using conventional abrasive agents with small particle sizes (commonly marketed for teeth whitening). It is important to always consult the dental operator regarding home care oral hygiene instructions or regimens. This is because a dentally recommended toothpaste or dentifrice prescribed by the practitioner can help avail the benefits of sustaining the tooth remineralization process and preventing plaque.
