Baking soda is a popular household product, it is generally known by the name sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate. The natural occurring sodium bicarbonate is a mineral that is found in various locations around the world. It Is mined in large quantities and sold commercially in some parts of the world, including California, Colorado, Botswana and Kenya. (1) Some years back, baking soda is widely recognized as a great tool for cleaning, removing stains and as a rising agent when baking.
After various years of researching and studies, it was discovered that there are lots of health benefits associated with the use of baking soda, a home remedy. So, are you among the list of people who think that baking soda is just an ingredient for baking or something that helps to keep our refrigerators odor-free? Incorporating foods like apple cider vinegar and toothpaste preparations can also provide additional health benefits.
Apart from its uses in cooking and cleaning, baking soda is also incredibly beneficial for dental hygiene. Baking soda can help maintain good oral health by treating certain health problems. Before I delve into the main reason for writing this article, let’s briefly explore some of the health benefits of baking soda preparations, particularly for toothpaste and apple cider vinegar.
Health benefits of baking soda
1. Anti-Fungal and Antibacterial: baking soda has strong antiseptic properties which kills bacteria associated with oral problems such as tooth decay, bad breath and infections. It protects the skin and nail from being infected by fungal groups including yeasts, dermatophytes and molds. Baking soda can promote healing and help to soothe mouth ulcers and sores.
2. It brings balance to pH level: Baking soda is very effective for balancing the levels of acid in the body. It helps to improve pH balance by neutralizing dangerous levels of acids in the body. Drinking of baking soda in water can help to treat internal digestive issues such as acid reflux or heartburn. Since baking soda can reduce heartburn and indigestion, many manufacturers of conventional heartburn medications now include sodium bicarbonate as one of their main ingredients.
3. It improves dental health: making use of baking soda toothpaste is a great way to improve dental and oral health. Baking soda discourages the accumulation of plaque and disease causing bacteria on the teeth. It plays a significant role in the prevention of gum disease. Gum disease is commonly caused by excessive accumulation of plaque on the teeth and along the gum lines. Brushing your teeth every day with baking soda, or toothpaste with added baking soda can prevent plaque accumulation. However, you should be careful because baking soda has abrasive qualities that can wear away teeth enamel if misused.
4. Teeth Whitener: For certain reasons the teeth can get discolored or stained. Baking soda is very effective for teeth whitening, it remove stains and odor-causing bacteria from the teeth. Many manufacturers of teeth whitening products include baking soda due to its strong stain removal ability. You can even create your own teeth whitening paste by mixing small amount of baking soda and water.
Ways To Use Baking Soda To Eliminate Bad Breath
Just like I said earlier, baking soda is very effective for fighting bad breath (halitosis) and maintaining good oral health. It does not cover the odor but it treats the actual underlying causes of bad breath. Most mouthwash, gums, and mints that are designed to fight bad breath only provide temporary relief without addressing the actual cause of the problem. One of the most common causes of bad breath is high acidic levels in the mouth due to bacteria activities in the mouth.
Baking is not acidic but alkaline in nature, it neutralizes the high acidic levels and also gets rid of the bacteria causing it. Here is a list of combinations and remedies you can use alongside baking soda to combat bad breath.
1. Baking Soda And Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider is a great pH neutralizing agent, but unlike baking soda, it’s slightly acidic in nature. A mixture of apple cider vinegar and baking soda can help to stop bad breath and oral infections. For this remedy, you will need a teaspoon of baking soda, a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a glass of water. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and rinse your mouth with it for about 1-2 minutes before you spit it out. It can stop bad breath with consistent use of about three times per week.
2. Baking soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful antimicrobial agent that is used to get rid of disease causing bacteria and harmful microorganisms. (3) When used in the oral cavity, hydrogen peroxide can eliminate those bacteria that are responsible for persistent bad breath, gums recession and tooth decay. You can prepare a baking soda + hydrogen peroxide mouthwash by mixing a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide, a teaspoon of baking soda and half cup water.
3. Baking Soda And Lemon
The Lemon is acidic in nature, studies proved that the amount of acid present in lemon juice exerts an anti-bacteria effects on the odor-causing bacteria. Swishing around the mouth with the right amount of lemon juice can freshen your breath as well as kill odor-causing bacteria in your mouth. However, lemon juice can be more effective in treating bad breath when it’s added to baking soda.
To prepare the mixture, you will need a teaspoon of baking soda, two teaspoons of lemon juice and half cup of water. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and swish it around your mouth for a minute or more before you spit it out. Ensure to rinse your mouth with clean water after each application. This remedy can cure bad breath forever if you can apply this same remedy for at least twice every day until the odor is gone.
4. Baking soda and Salt
Just like the baking soda, salt is also a pH neutralizing compound, it has an additional antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. A mixture of salt and baking soda can help to get rid of oral infections and bad breath. You can make a solution of salt and baking soda with water and gargle the solution for about a minute each time.
Although most people prefer gargling with a mixture of baking soda and water, without adding salt, these solutions help eliminate foul breath by removing bacteria hiding in the mouth.
Finally, if the bad odor persists or increases after the application of any of these remedies, you should see your doctor. There may be need for medical tests in order to identify the underlying cause of your bad breath. Persistent bad breath could be a sign of a bigger internal problem in the digestive system.(4) In my previous post, I gave a list of 9 effective natural home remedies that can stop bad breath forever. You can read the post here – Simple home remedies for bad breath.
Richard Smith is a Registered Nutritionist and also a Health Speaker. Richard Smith graduated from The City University of New York. You can learn more about him by Visiting His LinkedIn Page or Follow him on Twitter.
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