You likely know about the tried-and-true habits of brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes a day, flossing daily, and visiting the dentist twice a year to help you maintain good oral health. But it can be hard to know whether the latest trends that claim to improve your health and wellness, from charcoal bread to charcoal toothpaste, are beneficial or harmful! When you’re brushing, you might wonder whether switching to a toothpaste that contains charcoal would make a positive difference for your oral hygiene.
Charcoal Toothpaste
Charcoal toothpaste is a black fine-grain paste made with activated charcoal and other natural materials that are oxidized under extreme heat. The kind of charcoal in toothpaste is purported to be highly absorbent and able to trap other chemicals. Due to its ingredients, charcoal toothpaste is mildly abrasive. Its abrasive characteristic has led to the claim that charcoal toothpaste can whiten teeth.
Unfortunately, charcoal toothpaste typically only removes surface-level stains on your teeth. Your whitening results may not be much better than if you were to use a typical whitening toothpaste. Additionally, consistent use may be harmful to your tooth enamel. Most charcoal toothpaste does not contain fluoride, which is proven to fortify your enamel against decay. Daily brushing with charcoal toothpaste can wear down your enamel, exposing the underlying dentin. This tooth layer looks more yellow than enamel, and exposure results in increased sensitivity.
Consider Cosmetic Dentistry Instead of Charcoal Toothpaste
Deep-set intrinsic teeth stains will need to be removed if you want a dramatically whiter smile. So if a whiter smile is your goal, please reach out to North River Dental Care. We offer professional teeth whitening and other cosmetic dentistry treatments like veneers that can help you achieve a smile that is both stunning and strong!
Image from Authority Dental under CC 2.0
