What Are the Uses of Baking Soda?
Medically reviewed by Erika Prouty, PharmD
Baking soda, also called sodium bicarbonate, is an alkaline, odorless, white crystalline powder (or lumps) that has a slightly bitter taste. It is a type of salt.
Baking soda is often used as a food additive to make baked goods rise. It can also be used in dental and cleaning products.
It is sometimes used in medicine, such as swallowed as an antacid or given intravenously, such as treatment for metabolic acidosis.
This article will discuss the ingredients in baking soda, its uses and benefits, who should avoid using it, and more.
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Ingredients in Baking Soda
Baking soda is made up of sodium ions and bicarbonate ions.
Baking Soda vs. Baking Powder
Baking soda and baking powder both can create the chemical reaction that makes baked goods rise. They are similar but not the same and differ as follows:
Baking soda: Requires an acid to create the chemical reaction
Baking powder: Contains baking soda and a powdered acid (such as cream of tartar) and requires only moisture to create the reaction
Uses and Benefits of Baking Soda
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers baking soda to be "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) as a food additive, an antacid, and as an ingredient in toothpaste.
While baking soda is sometimes used in medicine, there is conflicting research on some of its uses.
Dental
Baking soda is sometimes used as a dentifrice (a powder or paste, such as toothpaste, for cleaning teeth). It is primarily used as an abrasive, but is believed to be mild on soft tissues such as the gums and oral mucosa (soft lining inside the the mouth), and has a low abrasive level on tooth surfaces.
Baking soda neutralizes acidic components of chemicals that can stain teeth, such as the pigment-producing microorganisms called chromogens in tea and red wine, making them less likely to stain.
Baking soda doesn't have a direct antimicrobial effect but can be helpful as a cleaning agent because it can dissolve mucus and loosen debris in the mouth.
It can also neutralize the acids produced by bacteria in the mouth, which may help prevent tooth decay.
A 2017 study examined the effects of a baking soda solution rinse on bacterial count and salivary pH (a measure of acidity and alkalinity). It found the baking soda rinse could increase salivary pH (make it more alkaline) and help prevent enamel demineralization (loss of minerals from the dental enamel) but was limited in reducing bacterial count post-rinse.
A 2021 narrative review noted that baking soda used as a mouthwash, a mucoadhesive spray (a substance that adheres two materials, one of which contains mucus), or in sugar-free gum may raise salivary pH and may (in some cases) lower colonization of acidophilic (acid-loving) bacteria.
Dentifrices that contain baking soda may help enhance plaque removal and inhibit cavities (dental caries).
Baking soda dentifrice showed promising results for plaque removal in single-use studies, which were partially substantiated in follow-up studies. A small reduction in bleeding was also found with baking soda relative to a control product.
Heartburn
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation, and an acid taste in the mouth. Sodium bicarbonate is an ingredient in some antacids (used to treat acid reflux). Its commercial use as an antacid dates back as far as the 1880s.
It is generally considered effective for providing occasional acid reflux relief but should not be used regularly unless advised by a healthcare provider. It can be harmful to use long-term and should only be used for acute periods of reflux that last less than two weeks.
Over-the-counter (OTC) baking soda antacid products are available in tablets and effervescent powder. Alka-Seltzer is one of the best-known brands containing baking soda in some of its antacid products.
Some precautions to take when using antacids containing baking soda include:
Talk to your healthcare provider before use, as antacids can affect the absorption of some medications and is high in sodium.
Take as directed on the package, no more and no less, unless advised otherwise by your healthcare provider.
Take it one to two hours after meals, with a full glass of water.
Don't take it on an overly full stomach.
Don't use it for more than two weeks unless directed by your healthcare provider.
Don't give it to children under 12 years of age unless directed to by their healthcare provider.
Sodium Bicarbonate Antacids and Pregnancy
Although GERD and heartburn are common in pregnancy, antacids containing sodium bicarbonate should be avoided. They could lead to fluid overload and metabolic alkalosis (too much bicarbonate in the blood) in the pregnant person and fetus. Other antacid options should be discussed with your healthcare provider for use in pregnancy.
Athletics
The use of baking soda in athletics (known as soda loading) is controversial, both in its effectiveness and safety. Some coaches and athletes believe that ingesting baking soda before a competition helps with performance. This practice can be dangerous and can also have side effects that make the athlete unable to perform.
The theory behind ingesting baking soda in athletics is that it could create a more alkaline physiological environment, which may improve high-intensity intermittent exercise tolerance.
Some studies have found performance improvement using soda loading, but the studies' poor approaches may have affected the results. For example, a 2015 study found an improvement in performance, but its sample size was only 13, all of the participants were trained men aged 22 to 24, and no control group using a placebo (inactive compound) was included.
Other studies have found limited or no performance benefits to soda loading.
The most commonly used baking soda dose for scientific studies is 300 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight (mg/kg). The sodium content of baking soda makes this dose greatly exceed the Dietary Reference Intakes tolerable upper limit of 2,300 mg of sodium per day. With this dose, a 70 kg (154-pound) athlete would ingest approximately 5,700 mg of sodium.
This has the potential to affect blood pressure, but more research is needed in this area.
Soda loading has also been associated with gastrointestinal distress (such as diarrhea), which can sometimes become severe. This not only can cause health concerns, but it can also negatively affect athletic performance, negating any potential enhancing effects of the soda loading.
Always talk to a healthcare provider before trying soda loading.
Certain Medical Conditions
Sodium bicarbonate can be used intravenously by medical professionals in the treatment of metabolic acidosis (the buildup of acids in the body). This can occur with conditions such as:
Severe kidney disease
Ketoacidosis (such as from alcohol or uncontrolled diabetes)
Circulatory insufficiency due to shock or dehydration
Extracorporeal (outside the body) circulation of blood
Cardiac arrest
Severe primary lactic acidosis
Sodium bicarbonate may also be used to treat other health concerns such as:
Severe diarrhea with a significant loss of bicarbonate
Certain drug intoxications
Poisoning by salicylates or methyl alcohol
Hemolytic (red blood cell rupture) reactions requiring alkalinization of the urine to diminish nephrotoxicity (toxic effects on the kidneys) of blood pigments
A small group of studies suggests that treatment with sodium bicarbonate or sodium citrate pills could help prevent kidney disease from worsening, but more research is needed.
The use of sodium bicarbonate to treat medical conditions should always be done under the guidance of healthcare providers. Talk to a healthcare provider, and do not try to self-treat.
Non-Medicinal Uses of Baking Soda
Non-medicinal uses of baking soda include:
As a leavening agent in dough
Odor absorption in the fridge
Household cleaning (not a reliable disinfectant)
Ingredient in cosmetic products
Ingredient in soaps and detergents
Used in fire extinguishers
Used in leather tanning and paper production
Removing pesticides from apples
To remove pesticides from apples, soak the apples in a solution of 1 teaspoon of baking soda to 2 cups of water for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse well and dry thoroughly with a towel before refrigerating.
Should Anyone Not Use Baking Soda?
Talk to a healthcare provider before taking sodium bicarbonate, particularly if you have or have ever had:
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Kidney disease
Bleeding in your stomach or intestine
Metabolic or respiratory alkalosis
Hypocalcemia (low blood calcium)
Excessive chloride loss from vomiting or continuous gastrointestinal (GI) suctioning
Risk of developing diuretic-induced hypochloremic alkalosis
Conditions that cause edema (swelling from trapped fluid) or sodium retention
Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding before taking sodium bicarbonate, or if you become pregnant while taking it.
Sodium bicarbonate should not be given to children unless directed by their healthcare provider.
Significant morbidity (illness) and mortality (death) have been associated with heavy baking soda use in people who have alcohol use disorder.
Avoid taking sodium bicarbonate on an overly full stomach. Cases of spontaneous gastric rupture (a hole in the stomach) have occurred from large volumes of carbon dioxide created on neutralization of stomach acid by ingested bicarbonate.
Baking Soda Toxicity
Too much baking soda can be dangerous. Keep baking soda and all household food items in their original containers and out of the sight and reach of children. If used in the fridge in a house that has children, push it as far to the back as possible.
The most commonly reported cause of baking soda toxicity is excessive use as an antacid.
Symptoms of a baking soda overdose include:
Vomiting
Constipation
Convulsions/seizures
Feeling of being full
Irritability
Frequent urination
Muscle spasms
Muscle weakness
Kidney failure
Slow, shallow, ineffective breathing
Baking soda toxicity and excessive use can lead to serious health concerns, such as:
Respiratory effects
Cardiac effects
Neurological effects
What to Do If You Suspect a Baking Soda Overdose
If you suspect you or someone else has a baking soda overdose:
Call 911 or your local emergency number, or the local poison control center by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.
Do not induce vomiting unless told to by a healthcare provider or poison control.
Side Effects
Taking sodium bicarbonate can have side effects such as:
Increased thirst
Stomach cramps
Talk to your healthcare provider if these side effects are severe or persistent.
Stop taking sodium bicarbonate and call your healthcare provider right away if you experience any of the following:
Severe headache
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Weakness
Frequent urge to urinate
Slow breathing
Irritability
Swelling of feet or lower legs
Bloody, black, or tarry stools
Baking soda can be irritating to the skin and eyes.
Drug Interactions
Sodium bicarbonate may cause interactions or other concerns when taken with other medications or supplements, such as:
Diuretics ("water pills")
Antacids
Aspirin or aspirin-like medications
Tambocor (flecainide)
Iron
Nizoral (ketoconazole)
Eskalith/Lithobid (lithium)
Hiprex/Urex (methenamine)
Quinidine
Sulfa-containing antibiotics
Sumycin (tetracycline)
Vitamins
Corticosteroids
Corticotropin
Calcium (or chronic administration of bicarbonate with milk)
Anticholinergics or medications with anticholinergic action (blocking the action of a neurotransmitter in the body)
Amphetamines
Phentermine
Nelfinavir
Indinavir
Mesalazine
Can I Make My Own Baking Soda Antacid?
Making your own baking soda antacid is not advised because of the potential for using too much, and the associated complications.
Taking OTC antacid products that use calcium carbonate (such as Tums) is a safer option.
If your healthcare provider has recommended sodium bicarbonate tablets, it is important to use them exactly as your healthcare provider has directed.
Summary
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) can be used for dental health, heartburn, and certain medical conditions such as metabolic acidosis. It may also be used in athletics to enhance performance in certain circumstances, but research is conflicting on whether this is effective and/or safe.
Talk to your healthcare provider before taking sodium bicarbonate as it can have side effects, is not appropriate for use with some medical conditions, and may interact with medications. Children, people who are pregnant, and people who are breastfeeding should not take sodium bicarbonate unless directed by a healthcare provider.
Excess sodium bicarbonate and baking soda toxicity can be dangerous and sometimes fatal. Keep baking soda out of reach of children, and always follow the directions for use.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
