Baking soda has become a common ingredient in many toothpastes because it acts as an abrasive, helping to remove stains and whiten teeth, but in a gentler way than some of the abrasive ingredients found in other whitening toothpastes. Because it is a natural ingredient as well, it is also common in "natural" or organic toothpastes that are free of chemicals. When choosing the best baking soda toothpaste, it is a good idea to make sure that the toothpaste also contains fluoride. This is the most important ingredient in any toothpaste, according to dentists, and helps to clean the teeth and prevent cavities from forming.
When choosing a baking soda toothpaste, you will want to determine if you have any particular needs, such as sensitive teeth. Some baking soda toothpastes are specially designed for people with more sensitive teeth, though toothpastes that contains baking soda in general tend to be gentler on the teeth than other types of toothpaste. If you want the toothpaste to have especially effective whitening abilities, you may also want to look for one that contains peroxide, which works with the baking soda to remove stains. It also helps the baking soda toothpaste to foam more, which can give the feeling of a cleaner mouth and help to dislodge food particles between teeth.
Keep in mind that peroxide can be slightly irritating to the teeth, though, so people with especially sensitive teeth may want to avoid baking soda toothpaste that also contains peroxide. Toothpaste for sensitive teeth might include additional desensitizing ingredients as well. Baking soda toothpaste may be available in different flavors too; mint is the most common, but cinnamon or other flavors might be available as well, particularly in toothpaste for kids. Some types of natural or organic toothpastes will not contain flavor at all, as some people simply like the feeling of baking soda.
Natural or organic toothpastes are made with all natural ingredients and free of chemicals. The effectiveness of some of these products can be debated, and it may be best to ask a dentist for a recommendation. For instance, while baking soda helps to remove stains, it is not a particularly effective ingredient for actually cleaning teeth or preventing plaque or tartar buildup, so it should not be relied on solely for cleaning the teeth. Natural toothpastes often don't contain fluoride, which can leave the enamel on teeth more vulnerable to wear, which can lead to pain, sensitivity, and cavities.