Arm & Hammer Wants To Debunk Dental Care Myths

With attention circulating around the oral microbiome and its ties to overall health and wellness, Arm & Hammer set out to debunk myths surrounding oral care routines by bringing in a pair of podcasters, Monica Padman and dental expert Kari Carter-Cherelus, to discuss oral hygiene.

The women had a candid discussion about correct brushing methods, adapting an effective oral care routine and the secret behind Arm & Hammer’s star ingredient: baking soda. Since its introduction in 1988, Arm & Hammer Toothpaste has harnessed the ingredient to help deliver a “fresh-from-the-dentist clean feel” while remaining gentle on enamel.

“At a time when consumers are constantly sorting through advice, trends and conflicting information, we think it’s more important than ever to keep things simple and focus on the facts,” said Padman, who co-created and co-hosts the podcast Armchair Expert with actor Dax Shepard. The Armchair Expert is a podcast that celebrates the “messiness of being human.” Arm & Hammer invited Padman to have a candid talk with Cherelus after seeing her trumpet her love of the brand on social media and talk about the unsung benefits of baking soda in personal care.

Baking Soda Benefits

Padman said she was introduced to Arm & Hammer by her father years ago. She recalled being “blown away” at the “daylong clean feeling it gave her long after brushing.”

A 2026 survey commissioned by Arm & Hammer Toothpaste and conducted online by Talker Research with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 Americans reveals that over half (51%) of Americans say having white teeth gives them a high level of confidence – and they’re more likely to have a two-step oral care routine over a multi-step one. Padman said her best physical attribute – her white smile – is what she appreciates most about her appearance while talking to people for living, and something she said she owes to Arm & Hammer’s baking soda-based formula.

According to the survey, as high as 88% of Americans say they’re already using baking soda for at least one purpose in their homes. It also revealed that many people are less aware of the benefits it can offer for their teeth. While less than half (45%) of survey respondents recognize that baking soda in toothpaste is known to help whiten teeth, fewer (36%) are aware that Arm & Hammer baking soda toothpastes helps neutralize acids and freshens breath with 35% aware of their provision of gentle cleaning.

Cherelus debunked one consumer concern over baking soda’s abrasive nature. Arm & Hammer, she said, applies the Relative Dentin Abrastivity scale to measure abrasiveness. In addition to scoring lower on the scale, which goes as high as 250 – a threshold regulatory bodies set as the upper safety limit for daily use – key benefits of baking soda include neutralizing cavity-causing acids, which can weaken enamel.
Padman remarked on the foaming action of Arm & Hammer’s Toothpastes which seep into hard-to-reach crevices. The brand’s Complete Care re-mineralizes teeth and removes up to three times stubborn plaque which, if left to fester, can lead to tooth decay and gum disease overtime.

“You want to keep your gums nice and healthy; it’s the foundation of your mouth. A lot of times, people are concerned with how your mouth looks. Think of it like a house; you want a beautiful house, but you care about that foundation,” noted Cherelus.

Gum disease which, can result from lack of proper oral hygiene, can be linked to heart disease, diabetes and even pregnancy complications she added.

To achieve and sustain satisfactory gum health, using the right products in between hygienist visits pay dividends, Cherelus said.

Arm & Hammer’s Peroxicare removes up to three times more plaque removal while improving gum health by reducing the “bad” bacteria that can lead to gum disease, Cherelus said.

Cherelus, who is host of Burnout Bites Podcast and an oral cancer advocate, said she uses Arm & Hammer’s Advance White in between whitening treatments. Advance White utilizes stain defense technology to help gently remove stains and prevent new ones from setting.

Stains, she said, can form overtime from artificially colored drinks whose colorants attaches to existing plaque forming stains. While Arm & Hammer toothpaste removes surface stains, whitening treatments, she added, get into the microscopic pores of teeth to lift deep stains.

“The good thing about Advanced White is it does both,” Cherelus said. “It prevents stains, treats stains and helps to get teeth white because of [the] baking soda and peroxide.”

Another inevitable part of oral upkeep is tackling bad breath germs. Arm & Hammer’s newest innovation, Plus TheraBreath Toothpaste, helps kill bad breath bacteria using sodium chloride.

Cherelus says maintaining good oral hygiene is a habit, much like their home and car maintenance, and consistency is key.

“The most important thing is consistency,” she said. “Sometimes people think they need to brush all day. Or use a hard toothbrush, which isn’t good. Or have a whole line of products. You don’t really need to do all that. You just need to brush at least twice a day, ideally in the morning and at night, and you need to clean in between your teeth to help with gum health and see your dental professional regularly. Less is more. We just keep it simple. That’s why this brand has been out there for decades.”

“It’s the OG and baking soda is the key,” concluded Padman.