Are there benefits to using charcoal toothpaste?
The charcoal used to make toothpaste is activated charcoal, which is a fine powder made from natural materials, including wood and coconut shells. This leads to one of the “cons” of charcoal toothpaste – it is abrasive and can wear down tooth enamel, which can make teeth sensitive. This also means that dentin, the part of the tooth underneath the enamel, is exposed. Dentin is yellowish in color, which means that you may be using charcoal toothpaste because you want whiter teeth, but you may actually be making your teeth less white and more dingy.
Another con is that most brands of charcoal toothpaste don’t have fluoride in them. Fluoride is an important part of keeping teeth healthy and protecting them against tooth decay. And, researchers aren’t sure yet what the long-term effects of using charcoal toothpaste might be and what kind of effect it might have on veneers, bridges, and other restorations.
If you want to use charcoal toothpaste because it seems like a natural way to whiten teeth, you should know that there are other natural alternatives that are safer and time-tested. These include baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and apple cider vinegar.
Before you consider making changes to your oral health care routine, though, you should discuss any changes with your dentist. And, if you are looking for a way to whiten your teeth, you should discuss this with your dentist as well – professional tooth whitening is a very effective and very safe option. You can make an appointment with Dr. Samuel Jirik to discuss any questions you have about your oral health care routine. Call the office in Cabot, Arkansas, at (501) 843-9561 today!
