DENTAL DILEMMAS – Dr Karim Rachidi from Synergy Dental Clinics helps with advice on dental problems

Q. Does baking soda really help whiten teeth, and is it safe?

A. It’s only natural to want to have whiter teeth. Especially when we start to notice our everyday habits starting to take its toll on them. Excessive consumption of tea or coffee, regularly drinking red wine and smoking are culprits of teeth becoming stained.

The good thing is, there are some proven and unproven methods of whitening teeth. This ranges from professional whitening at your dentist to using regular household items, such as baking soda.

While baking soda has been proven to remove certain tooth stains, it doesn’t remove all of them. Due to its abrasive nature, baking soda can clean away some of the less strong stains on your teeth’s surface. But, if there are stronger stains then you may need to visit your dentist for professional whitening or consider cosmetic dentistry such as dental veneers.

It’s important to remember that while baking soda may seem harmless, there is a correct way to use it. Firstly, mix it with an equal amount of water to tone down the abrasiveness levels. Secondly, brush the teeth gently and avoid scrubbing. Thirdly, try not to use it every day – once or twice a week should be more than enough.

Also, don’t forget to brush your teeth with your normal toothpaste twice a day on a daily basis for protection against bacteria. It is really important to remember the risks associated with using baking soda regularly.

For more information about dental issues, contact Synergy Dental Clinics Blackburn, email blackburn@synergydental.org.uk or go to synergydental.org.uk/dentist-in-blackburn