Does Baking Soda Whiten Teeth?

Does baking soda whiten teeth? The truth of the matter is that baking soda has to step out of the spotlight when it comes to teeth whitening. Known for its miracle workings in the home-leavening agent, odor neutralizer, sunburn relief and more-baking soda is a handy item to have around, but it won't whiten teeth.  

Baking Soda: Teeth Whitener?
While baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is an ingredient in most toothpastes, there is no scientific evidence supporting the claim that it whitens teeth. Essentially, the idea that baking soda whitens teeth is an old wives' tale.

Baking soda does play one important role in toothpaste, however: it gives toothpaste its texture. Baking soda merely gives whitening toothpaste its texture.

The Trick to Whitening: Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda are often ingredients in toothpastes. Hydrogen peroxide does whiten teeth.

Whitening Techniques
There are three main whitening techniques: in-office whitening, professionally dispensed take-home whitening kits and over-the-counter whitening products:

• In-office whitening is able to drastically whiten teeth in a short period of time because of the high concentration of peroxide. While costs can vary, it generally falls in the range of $650.
• Professionally dispensed kits have a less powerful peroxide gel, allowing the strips to be worn longer, which means better results over time. These kits cost anywhere from $100 to $400.
• Over-the-counter whitening products are the cheapest option; while these kits only cost $20 to $100, these whitening trays tend to only fit the front teeth.