Definitely catastrophe. It is not the first time that we talk about “homemade” or DIY dental treatments, in this case, we will talk about some videos that are trending and talk about how to “whiten” teeth with baking soda and lemon.
Let's start at the beginning, baking soda is a solid product, used in bakery during the dough rising process, or in some carbonated drinks and soft drinks. One of the chemical characteristics of sodium bicarbonate is that when it comes into contact with an acidic agent, as is the case of the topic in question, the citric acid of lemon, it produces an effervescent reaction that releases carbon dioxide, so It looks “foamy” when used with lemon during brushing, the same reason why it is used in the manufacture of soft drinks, since when it comes into contact with the acid products of the soft drink and soft drink formulas, it releases carbon dioxide, and they are the “bubbles” that we see when consuming these drinks. What is the problem then of using it as a toothpaste? Baking soda as such produces practically no effect on dental or gingival tissues, however, it lacks the properties of a good toothpaste with agents that eliminate dental plaque (with the help of good brushing technique), it does not It has fluoride, which has been shown to have a highly positive effect on dental tissues. In conclusion, the worst harm of using baking soda instead of toothpaste is, in fact, using baking soda instead of toothpaste.
On the other hand, there is the lemon. Lemon is another story, unlike baking soda, lemon, as well as any acidic product that is ingested and comes into contact with the teeth, affects the integrity of the enamel and dissolves it little by little. In fact, dental caries is the result of “acidic” waste produced by bacteria that are part of the normal bacterial flora of the mouth, Streptococcus mutans, as a result of the digestion of carbohydrates or carbohydrates that remain in the mouth. surface of the teeth, if there is not proper oral hygiene these bacteria proliferate on the surface of the teeth, and their acidic waste is in effect what decomposes the dental tissues and causes cavities.
Unlike what many people believe, that bacteria “eat” the teeth, in fact, bacteria “eat” the carbohydrate remains that we leave on the tooth surface, and their waste decomposes the dental tissues due to its acidity. . It does not mean that lemon causes cavities, the acid in lemon breaks down the enamel, making the teeth increasingly yellower, smaller and more sensitive to external stimuli such as cold and heat. This occurs with any acid that comes into contact with the teeth, whether hot sauces, soft drinks, acidic juices and fruits, acidic candies, and even in people who suffer from bulimia, a disease in which the patient induces vomiting after each meal to avoid gaining weight, due to the constant contact of gastric juices with the teeth, the wear of the enamel is seen, as well as with any acid.
In conclusion, using baking soda with lemon as a substitute for toothpaste, instead of protecting, much less whitening the teeth, what it will do in the short term is weaken the dental tissues, make them look more yellow and become increasingly more sensitive.
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