My kid's dentist actually mentioned baking soda toothpaste can be fine occasionally, but daily use might be a bit abrasive over time. Maybe alternate it with a gentler fluoride toothpaste to ease your worries?
"My kid's dentist actually mentioned baking soda toothpaste can be fine occasionally, but daily use might be a bit abrasive over time."
That's pretty much what I've heard too. I did some digging a while back because I was curious about this myself. Baking soda is great at removing stains and neutralizing acids, but its abrasiveness can wear down enamel if used too frequently—especially for kids whose enamel is still developing. Alternating with a gentler fluoride toothpaste seems like a smart compromise to me.
Honestly, your dentist's advice sounds spot-on. It's reassuring to hear professionals giving balanced recommendations rather than just dismissing home remedies outright. I've personally been alternating toothpastes for about six months now (regular fluoride most days, baking soda once or twice a week), and my teeth feel clean without any sensitivity issues so far. Sounds like you're already on the right track...
Alternating with a gentler fluoride toothpaste seems like a smart compromise to me.
I've actually been down this road myself. My dentist mentioned something similar about baking soda toothpaste—good occasionally, but not ideal every day. I tried using it daily for a while because I loved how clean my teeth felt, but after a couple months, I noticed some sensitivity creeping in. Switched back to regular fluoride toothpaste most days and kept baking soda toothpaste for once-a-week deep cleans... sensitivity went away pretty quickly. Seems moderation really is key here.
I can totally relate to this. I went through a similar thing but with charcoal toothpaste instead of baking soda. At first, I loved how smooth and fresh my teeth felt, but after a few weeks, I started getting nervous because my gums felt irritated and sensitive. Got me worried enough to go back to regular fluoride toothpaste pretty quickly.
My dentist later explained that some of these "hacks" or specialty toothpastes are great once in a while, but daily use can actually be too harsh on enamel or gums. It made sense to me after that conversation. Now I just use charcoal toothpaste occasionally when I want that extra-clean feeling, but mostly stick with my gentle fluoride toothpaste. Haven't had any issues since.
Moderation definitely seems to be the safest route here... Glad you figured out what works for you too.
"My dentist later explained that some of these "hacks" or specialty toothpastes are great once in a while, but daily use can actually be too harsh on enamel or gums."
Yeah, I get that moderation is key, but honestly, even occasional use of charcoal toothpaste makes me kinda nervous. My dentist mentioned that charcoal can actually be pretty abrasive—even if you're not using it every day—and might lead to microscopic scratches on enamel over time. I dunno... maybe I'm just overly cautious, but I'll stick to my trusty fluoride toothpaste and regular cleanings for now. Better safe than sorry, right?
