A tooth powder should be soluble in water, free from grit, alkaline in reaction, and have a “bite” that will mechanically and chemically remove the albuminoid mucin film from the surface of the teeth. To be alkaline is essential because of the fact that most of the pathological germs of the mouth breed in an acid medium, the insoluble fats and albumins that form in the dental plaques are made soluble by alkali treatment, and also the decalcification and later decay take place as the result of the chemical action of acids.
Miller in 1907, after making exhaustive experiments and observations with commercial tooth powders, says: “I was not satisfied, relative to their liability to cut and erode the teeth, with examining the preparations microscopically but where there was any doubt I brushed the teeth them. Of the dentifrices examined a considerable number cut the teeth rapidly, while nearly all the others cut the teeth to some extent, the one that cut the least of all that I have examined was one which consists wholly of sodium bicarbonate.”
Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (Bicarbonate of Soda) as a dentifrice has been tested clinically in many hundreds of cases. There is a “bite” that cleans the teeth but does not cut or wear them away. Through a group of co-workers, we have been able to establish clinically that Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (Bicarbonate of Soda) used on a brush, with a small amount of cool water, two or three times daily, will remove discolorations, mucin plagues, fat and abuminoid deposits from the teeth, and leave them clean and highly polished.