Teeth and baking soda...

[SandraDee]

Some ppl use baking soda to brush their teeth right? Does anyone know if the baking soda would damage any possible new enamel growth? I've stopped using toothpaste in an attempt to re-grow my enamel and I'm just using water now... but am considering baking soda. Anyone here know??

[rawstrength]

Baking soda is good for building enamel because it neutralizes acid. Acid wears away your enamel.
But it can be abrasive. You should brush with 1 tbs. of baking soda dissolved in 1 cup of water. That way you get the acid neutralizing properties without the harshness of the undissolved powder.

[SandraDee]

Thank you so much RawStrength!!! I would have just put baking soda on my toothbrush not knowing otherwise!!!

[belleadonna]

I mix the baking soda with hydrogen pyroxide because it is an oxidizer and it kills bacteria.

[Livingsunfoods]

After I stopped using natural toothpaste (because of the glycerin issue) I tried castile soap for awhile.:eek: Yuck! Anyways I noticed staining on my teeth and had to take quick action. I came across IPSAB Tooth Powder by Heritage Products. It's just baking soda with peppermint oil and prickly ash bark which was used by the Native Americans for maintaing healthy teeth and gums. Within a couple of uses the stains were removed and now there back to being shiny and white! I highly recommend this product if you want a little pizzazz in your daily brushing.

[SandraDee]

belleadonna... do you use just regular old hydrogen peroxide that you get at the store?? Or is it a specific type??

[belleadonna]

I use the regular stuff that I get at the drug store. As long as you are not drinking the stuff :eek: you are ok!! :)

[lily]

Do you just mix the baking soda with a little hydrogen peroxide, like, say a teaspoon, or what? I'd love to try this but am not sure how to do it. Can you explain a bit more?

[belleadonna]

I just pour about a teaspoon of HP into a dessert cup and mix in enough BS to make a paste. Easy as pie. It will taste really salty but it works good. When you rinse your mouth out after you are done, your mouth tastes really sweet. Brush the mixture up and down and push up very gently into the gumline to reach the bacteria.

[iamacranberry]

I tried brushing with baking soda for a while (a few months), and that resulted in me getting my first ever cavity in my entire life...I was 19 at the time. Since then I switched to a natural brand of actual toothpaste made without SLS and fluoride, and I have had no problems since.

So honestly, I don't recommend the baking soda and water approach.

[belleadonna]

Both my dentist and a natural dental doctor recommended BS and HP. I seriously doubt that you got a cavity from using them. But, who knows!?

[iamacranberry]

I didn't use the hydrogen peroxide, just the baking soda. And I do not believe that using baking soda caused the cavity: I believe that baking soda not combined with anything other than water caused the cavity. The toothpaste I've got now uses baking soda as an ingredient.

All I'm saying is that baking soda alone didn't seem to do the job for me...it needs to be combined with something else as well in order to properly and completely clean the teeth.

[Mindi]

I have been using Toothsoap for a couple months and I recommend it! There is a book called "Good Teeth Birth to Death" written by Dr. Gerard Judd, a chemisty professor, who says the best way to regrow enamel and keep teeth clean is brushing with bar soap. (He has tons of research to back this up, but you'll have to read the book) Baking soda is too harsh, and so are the majority of commercial toothpastes, even "natural" ones.

Toothsoap is made from pure essential oils, is glycerin free and leaves your teeth squeeky clean! My dentist was amazed at how little plague I had at my last checkup. They also make a teeth whitener that is good at removing stains and keeping teeth white.

check them out at www.toothsoap.com

[iamacranberry]

It's really expensive though...

[linda12]

you can explore www.mamaherb.com (http://www.mamaherb.com/Treatments/View.aspx?id=2902#) to know some ailments which are treated with baking soda and you can see all the comments for each treatment and to how many people it really helped so far.

[kaylene]

are you using specific baking soda, or can I go pick up a box of Arm and Hammer?

:) Kaylene

[Raene]

I came across IPSAB Tooth Powder by Heritage Products. It's just baking soda with peppermint oil and prickly ash bark which was used by the Native Americans for maintaing healthy teeth and gums. Within a couple of uses the stains were removed and now there back to being shiny and white! I highly recommend this product if you want a little pizzazz in your daily brushing.

I got this at your recommendation and love it!! Thanks!

[pamparred]

As for baking soda, I got mine at WF. It does not contain aluminum. I am not sure if Arm & Hammer is aluminum free. It is very inexpensive and comes in a bag.

[kaylene]

Thanks! I will check out WF--I don't usually go there because I don't have one close!

[supergreen]

So what's the best bar soap to use? Obviously something with the simplest and most natural ingredient list, no SLS, etc. Anyone know of any good brands of bar soap to brush with. I use BS and H right now.

[Raene]

I got this at your recommendation and love it!! Thanks!

I take it back...I don't like the IPSAB anymore. I used it for about 2 months and it was tearing up my teeth b/c salt is really bad to use on your teeth actually...it's very abrasive...and my teeth became SOOO sensitive. My family members had the same problems.
I've been using baking soda straight onto my toothbrush and once a day also mix it with peroxide. I LOVE it. My teeth feel good and look good too.

[jules88]

I have used just baking soda on my toothbrush (mixed with nothing but water) for about 5 years and never have had a problem. I wet my toothbrush then pour a bit in the palm of my hand then dip my toothbrush in that and brush for 2 min with the electric toothbrush. It is a bit salty tasting until you get used to it, then when you use the other stuff it tastes very sweet. My 5 year old also uses it because she says the other stuff is "too minty".

[ShantiDass]

I switched from a vegan cruelty free toothpaste to toothpowder - Eco-dent with cinnamon. Well, I just looked at the ingredients and SLS is listed but it says (coconut derived). Does anyone know if this kind is safe or not? My previous toothpaste did not contain SLS at all and now I don't know what to do.

[RawKnitster]

Don't know about that, but I did use ECO-DENT MINT for a week or so recently. Thought it was great at first, then I got a nasty rash on both sides of my mouth where the foam would dribble down my chin. If I use it again, will be very careful not to get it on my skin.

[iamacranberry]

SLS is not safe, no matter where they got it from. In fact, it's even on the FDA's lists as a registered skin irritant, with potential side effects ranging from rash to blindness--it's in nearly every shampoo and thought to have an effect on the number of children wearing glasses. Wouldn't surprise me if there's merit to that. I hate companies that say "natural" and use SLS.

[Zella Juice]

Uncle Harrys toothpaste in the jar is AMAZING! I have never seen my teeth so white and it feels like I went to the dentist after every time I brush. It's kinda strong at first. But we keep using it because of the results. Even back in the days when I would use teeth whitener they were never this white and healthy feeling. TRY IT.

[TaupeRawMan]

Hi Zella -

which one do you recommend?