The Wonders of Baking Soda to Whiten Teeth

A whiter, more brilliant smile is a real confidence booster, and it's not as complicated or expensive as you might think.

The first and easiest step is remove surface stains - caused by things like coffee, tea, red wine and smoking - that can build up over time and dull your smile's appearance.

Arm & Hammer - the Baking Soda Toothpaste promises, with continued usage, whiter teeth, cleaner gums and fresher breath. But HOW CAN BAKING SODA WHITEN TEETH? Or maybe it's just another promise meant to be broken?

Discovery Health delved into the Wonders of Baking Soda in whitening teeth.

Chemically speaking, baking soda is a weak base that is amphoteric, which essentially means it can react with both acids and bases. This quality makes it perfect for neutralizing acids produced by bacteria in plaque, which could potentially destroy tooth enamel if left unchecked.

The chemical structure of baking soda also makes it a mild abrasive, and that's why it's so effective for removing surface stains from your teeth. But baking soda crystals are unique in that they dissolve easily in water, which allows the baking soda to penetrate more deeply into the grooves of your teeth and hard-to-reach places in your mouth than some other abrasives can.

Additionally, baking soda crystals are softer than enamel and dentine (tooth's outer layers) and therefore can mechanically scrub off stains without scratching those parts of your smile. This has the effect of making your teeth look brighter.

However, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you don't rely on baking soda alone for keeping your teeth healthy, because baking soda is simply an abrasive agent that helps remove debris and surface stains on your teeth. It doesn't necessarily fight plaque, a substance that causes gum disease and tooth decay.

The reason why Arm & Hammer came up with Arm & Hammer - the Baking Soda Toothpaste to produce a highly effective toothpaste that uses dental quality baking soda to safely whiten teeth, freshen breath, prevent stains, keep gums clean and fluoride to fight cavities.

Check out Arm & Hammer products at your nearest Watsons store in Singapore.