Baking Soda Toothpaste?

[BrooklineBiker]

Hi,
Can anyone recommend a baking soda toothpaste with fluoride that is inexpensive and free of nasty ingredients. I can't find anything cheaper than Country Gent brand which is $10 plus shipping for just a few ounces. Also would my teeth be ok using just plain baking soda (i.e. no added fluoride beyond what is in the local water supply). Thanks!

[Jomar]

Just FYI, though I am not a dentist, I specifically asked my father-in-law (who is an oral pathologist/dentistry prof)  about baking soda toothpaste one time a few years ago and he said it is not a good idea to use it frequently as it will cause damage to the enamel of your teeth. It is good to use occasionally to remove stains though, so more of a replacement for whitening junk that you might use on a weekly basis. I would imagine that using baking soda straight up would be worse for your enamel than using baking soda-based toothpaste, but again, I'm not a dentist. You might want to do a little more research on this.

[rmendpara]

I'll just add that I've gotten very used to Trader Joes toothpaste with baking soda and fluoride.

$2.xx per tube (probably varies by area), and a very mild baking soda/minty flavor. I hated the flavor explosion when I had to get a tube of regular colgate stuff.

I'm no dentist, but I'm fairly certain fluoride is a good thing and baking soda is somewhat non-abrasive when diluted properly in the formula.

Will be sad when it runs out since I don't go food shopping there often. :( Maybe I'll stock up on like 5 tubes one day..

[resy]

I am curious if anyone knows if its safe for veneers?

[Quark]

I use straight baking soda and stopped getting cavities completely. I only find it irritating if I scrub too hard or long. You don't have to scrub as long as with toothpaste. My dentist said this was no problem and did not mention it wearing away enamel.

I read somewhere that the glycerin in toothpaste can prevent your teeth from remineralizing and for some people this can cause cavities - I'm one of those people. Been getting regular cavities my whole life even when I never eat sugar until I stopped using regular toothpaste.

[BrooklineBiker]

Just FYI, though I am not a dentist, I specifically asked my father-in-law (who is an oral pathologist/dentistry prof)  about baking soda toothpaste one time a few years ago and he said it is not a good idea to use it frequently as it will cause damage to the enamel of your teeth. It is good to use occasionally to remove stains though, so more of a replacement for whitening junk that you might use on a weekly basis. I would imagine that using baking soda straight up would be worse for your enamel than using baking soda-based toothpaste, but again, I'm not a dentist. You might want to do a little more research on this.

Thanks Jomar for sharing your father in law's recommendation. That is helpful.

[BrooklineBiker]

I'll just add that I've gotten very used to Trader Joes toothpaste with baking soda and fluoride.

$2.xx per tube (probably varies by area), and a very mild baking soda/minty flavor. I hated the flavor explosion when I had to get a tube of regular colgate stuff.

I'm no dentist, but I'm fairly certain fluoride is a good thing and baking soda is somewhat non-abrasive when diluted properly in the formula.

Will be sad when it runs out since I don't go food shopping there often. :( Maybe I'll stock up on like 5 tubes one day..

Hi Rmendpara,
Wow. I did not even know Trader Joe made toothpaste. I will check this out.

[BrooklineBiker]

I use straight baking soda and stopped getting cavities completely. I only find it irritating if I scrub too hard or long. You don't have to scrub as long as with toothpaste. My dentist said this was no problem and did not mention it wearing away enamel.

I read somewhere that the glycerin in toothpaste can prevent your teeth from remineralizing and for some people this can cause cavities - I'm one of those people. Been getting regular cavities my whole life even when I never eat sugar until I stopped using regular toothpaste.

Hi Quark,
I am glad to hear you are doing well with straight baking soda. Glycerin and soy derived ingredients really inflame my mouth. Since I switched to baking soda from major manufacturer regular toothpaste, my periodontal disease has gotten much better. My dentist has never said baking soda is a problem for teeth.