Baking soda paste for teeth whitening

Baking soda can polish some surface stains, but it does not bleach tooth color and should be used gently, not as a daily scrub.

Baking soda is a mild abrasive, so it can remove some material sitting on enamel, such as coffee or tea residue. It cannot change deeper tooth color in dentin, and repeated vigorous rubbing can wear enamel or irritate exposed root surfaces.

If you use it, mix a small amount with water, brush lightly with a soft-bristled brush, and rinse rather than scrubbing hard. For internal discoloration or stronger whitening, a dentist can check for decay, restorations, enamel wear, and choose peroxide whitening or another suitable treatment.

Arrange an examination if a single tooth darkens, whitening causes sharp pain, or the tooth has a crack, cavity, or large filling. Seek prompt care for swelling, spontaneous tooth pain, or bleeding that does not settle.

Ask whether the discoloration is on the enamel or inside the tooth, whether you have enamel or root exposure, and which whitening method fits your fillings, crowns, and sensitivity history.