Does baking soda actually whiten teeth

Baking soda can remove some surface stains through mild abrasion, but it does not change the deeper color of tooth enamel like professional bleaching.

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, a mildly abrasive powder that can polish deposits on the outer enamel surface. It is not a peroxide bleaching agent, so it cannot reliably lighten intrinsic discoloration within enamel or dentin.

The visible result depends on whether the darkening is an external stain from food or tobacco, or an internal change from age, trauma, medication, or tooth damage. Abrasive rubbing can also wear enamel or irritate gums when used aggressively or often.

Use a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste twice daily, and clean between the teeth. A dentist can remove hardened calculus and assess the cause of discoloration before discussing a peroxide whitening treatment or a restoration for a filling, crown, or veneer.

Arrange an examination if one tooth has changed color, whitening causes persistent sensitivity, or the gum is sore or bleeding. Seek prompt care for discoloration with pain, swelling, a crack, or a history of dental trauma.