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There are over 50 ways you can use the sodium bicarbonate, also called sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate or monosodium carbonate: a natural substance which since 1800, with large-scale industrial production, has become commonplace. Useful not only in the preparation of feed from breeding, for the killing of components acid in the fumes of industries and waste incinerators, for the tanning of hides and for the production of extinguishing powders to extinguish fires. But also at home to obtain good leavened products, to deodorize, to clean is whiten. And it is precisely on whitening, especially that of the teeth, that experts have concentrated most in recent years. Because there are still many people who improvise home recipes thinking of lighten and brighten tooth enamel using compounds based on this product that risk endangering the health of the mouth.
Some of these involve adding a very small amount of sodium bicarbonate to a tablespoon of baking soda water and to mix until a smooth paste is formed, to be used as if it were a normal toothpaste.
No to do it yourself
“Many people rely on natural remedies which, in addition to not being effective, are harmful, warns the Dr. Clotilde Austoni, dentist, specialist in odontostomatological surgery. It happens that people improvise into “home recipes” based on baking soda and lemon, for example. These concoctions actually destroy tooth enamel. The baking soda that is highly abrasive consumes it, the lemon because it is acid corrodes it ”.
How to whiten your teeth without damaging them
“The only safe and effective way to whiten the teeth – continues the expert – is the professional treatment with peroxide of hydrogen or carbamide performed by the dentist or dental hygienist. It is good to know that everything that you can buy independently (pens, lights, toothpastes, gels) is absolutely useless. In fact, by law, over-the-counter products cannot contain more than 0.1 percent of hydrogen peroxide (the molecule that really whitens the tooth) and this percentage is not sufficient to obtain a result.
It is important to be careful because now you can find everything online, sometimes even products with a higher percentage than that required by law, with which you risk creating great damage. There is a reason why these provisions exist: hydrogen peroxide-based products are not suitable for self-use, but must be used following the instructions of a professional ”.
Whitening toothpastes: do they really work?
“As for the whitening toothpastes – explains Dr. Austoni – in reality, they too do not whiten because they do not contain hydrogen peroxide or contain it in too low a percentage. However, there are products that contain a formulation for which, after it has been done professional whitening, help to maintain the result and prevent the formation of spots. This yes. Be careful not to abuse them though: these are toothpastes that cannot be used on a daily basis. Usually only a couple of times a week“.
The advice, therefore, is to contact a professional dentist, who will be able to recommend the right remedy based on the condition of their teeth. Important to know, in a period of health emergency from COVID-19, that dental practices have very strict protocols:
- first there is the triage, therefore by telephone the patient knows very well that if he has had suspicious contacts or symptoms he will not show up for the appointment;
- appointments they are diluted, to avoid creating crowds;
- when the patient arrives in the office he must fill out forms in which an anamnesis of his health is made;
- disinfection procedures have been intensified, sterilization and sanitation, which has always been very scrupulous;
- now almost all health workers are vaccinated.
It is therefore very unlikely to become infected in a dental office.
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