It may be one of the cheapest and most easily attainable items at the grocery store but this miracle-working household item has the ability to not only work wonders as part of your daily beauty regime but is responsible for helping cure a whole variety of health issues.

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is a powerful pH balancer with anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and alkaline properties, making it a dream for your hair, skin, and teeth. And as if that wasn’t enough, it’s also an excellent acid-neutralizer for your internal organs helping to soothe all ‘high-acidity’ related health issues such as heartburn and indigestion.

There’s no end to what baking soda can do! But let’s take a look at some of our favorite baking soda benefits.

1. An Acne Buster

Baking soda is great for the skin! Because of its alkaline nature, it helps neutralize the skin’s pH imbalances, after becoming overly acidic during a breakout. It’s anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties help to soothe redness and swelling, which can calm down one of those very unwanted flare-ups that may spontaneously erupt on your face when you least expect it.

Baking soda is also excellent for fading acne pigmentation scars due to its exfoliating qualities, which help to remove dead skin cells that block up your pores. While shedding the old skin, baking soda also encourages the growth of new skin cells and prevents acne to re-emerge in those areas.

How to use:

We suggest mixing one teaspoon of baking soda with enough water to make a fine paste. Gently rub over infected areas and leave for up to 15 minutes. Rinse and repeat 2-3 times a week or as needed. If using as an exfoliator, then gently massage the paste onto your skin in a circular motion for 2-3 minutes and then rinse with warm water. 

Please note: Every skin type is different, therefore will react differently. Although harmless, baking soda is drying so may sting and cause redness for some skin types. It is recommended to test on a small patch of skin first.

2. A Hair-grease and Dandruff Banisher!

Baking soda’s ability to neutralize the skin’s pH balance does wonders for the scalp, keeping it clean and healthy. It strips away any chemical residue from shampoos and conditioners, which rids grease and makes hair super shiny!

It’s a great alternative to commercial shampoo and conditioner, which strip your scalp of its natural oils. Baking soda helps re-balance your pH levels encouraging your scalp to produce the natural amount of oil needed for healthy hair growth.

It’s also a brilliant substitute for dry shampoo and really helps to give your hair volume!

How to use:

Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with enough water to make a paste. Massage into your scalp and leave for a few minutes before rinsing. It is recommended to use apple cider vinegar as an after rinse to help condition the hair.

Please note: Although this method has worked for many, for some, using too much baking soda and too regularly will strip your hair of natural sebum. This can damage the equilibrium of your hair leaving it dry and brittle at the ends and heavy on top so keep paying attention to how it feels. It is recommended to keep increasing the days between each wash and decreasing the amount of baking soda used.

Baking soda is one of the main ingredients in our 100% natural tooth powder!

3. Soothes Heartburn and Indigestion

Baking soda is a natural antacid and therefore one of the most effective ways to treat acid reflux. The alkaline effects of baking soda can neutralize stomach acid, relieving symptoms of indigestion and also alleviate heartburn caused by acid reflux. Baking soda is even found in certain heartburn medications. 

How to use:

Take ½ teaspoon of baking soda with a drink of water every 2 hours until symptoms disappear.

Please note: Be mindful when mixing baking soda with an already prescribed antacid medicine. Stomach acids need to be kept in balance in order to digest food. This is not a long-term solution, however, can offer relief temporarily. 

4. A Natural Deodorizer

Whilst commercial deodorants smell pleasant, have effective antibacterial properties and stop you sweating, most of them have harmful chemicals that are easily absorbed into your body. At the same time, the aluminum present in most deodorants and antiperspirants actually plug the sweat ducts, acting as a barrier to releasing dangerous toxins from the body.

Baking soda is aluminum free and not only absorbs sweat but also reduces body odor by killing bacteria and neutralizing the pH balance of your sweat. Baking soda makes for a perfect odorless alternative, without subjecting your armpits to an array of nasty chemicals.

How to use:

Dissolve about 1/2  a teaspoon of baking soda in enough water to make a paste and then apply to skin. Adjust quantities as necessary.

Please note: Be careful not to go too overboard with the amount of baking soda you use as it can cause dryness and irritation. Make sure the baking soda is sufficiently dissolved before application.  

5. An Excellent Teeth Cleaner (our favorite – obviously!)

Baking soda is a mild and gentle abrasive, perfect for removing stains and even known to whiten your teeth. And being the acid-neutralizing King that it is, it helps to neutralize bad odors and bad tastes accumulated from acidic foods, therefore brilliant for combating bad breath.

The pH balancing qualities of baking soda also helps to balance the pH balance in the mouth aiding in the process of saliva remineralization, which plays an important role in repairing tooth enamel and healing gum tissues.

How to use:

Try Good-Gums – our wonderful concoction of all-natural ingredients mixed together with baking soda, cranberry, vitamin C, citrus bioflavonoids, French grey sea salt, peppermint, cinnamon, and myrrh, which are all easily absorbed into your gums, helping to repair tooth damage and heal oral infections.

So, with all these miraculous qualities, of COURSE, we’ve chosen baking soda to be one of the main ingredients in our all-natural tooth powder!!