Pros & Cons Of Charcoal Toothpaste
Charcoal is the newest trend in the world of cosmetics and wellness. You can find it in commercial face masks, supplement pills, and toothpaste. Many people swear by it for whitening their teeth, but is it that effective?
Many new studies have called into question whether charcoal-based toothpaste is doing more damage than good. Since it may be confusing to learn all about it, a Washington Heights dentist has shared below the pros and cons of using charcoal toothpaste.
What Is a Charcoal-Based Toothpaste?
Charcoal is a black form of carbon. It becomes “activated” when burned at a high temperature, leading to a more porous texture. Charcoal toothpaste is made from this material, so it looks exactly as you think —deep black and quite grainy.
This fine grain powder comes from peat, coconut shells, wood bits, and other carbon-based materials. Once the charcoal is activated, it acts as a magnet for materials like oil and dirt, allowing them to sweep away once you wash off the charcoal.
Charcoal-based toothpaste is not new, it’s simply a rebirth of old medicine methods. It is considered an effective toothpaste because it binds to everything in its path, including bacteria and viruses.
Does Charcoal Toothpaste Whiten The Teeth?
Activated charcoal removes surface stains, but there’s a difference between removing stains and whitening. This ingredient is mildly abrasive so it can absorb surface stains to some degree, but not to the level of ‘whitening’.
There’s no evidence of activated charcoal having an effect on stains below a tooth’s enamel. In other words, it is not a natural whitening toothpaste.
According to a Washington Heights cosmetic dentist, you can remove surface stains with toothpaste, but only to some degree. These surface stains come from usual things like red wine, tobacco, and coffee.
However, deeper or intrinsic stains come from the inner part of the tooth, so they cannot simply disappear with toothpaste. These stains usually appear due to weak enamel, trauma, or certain medications.
These stains are harder to treat, so you won’t be able to “fix them” with anything. The real difference in making your teeth whiter will be possible only with professional treatments.
Is Charcoal Toothpaste Safe?
More research is necessary to confirm the long-term effects of charcoal-based toothpaste. Sadly, current studies have confirmed that using charcoal toothpaste can cause more damage than good.
Activated charcoal is non-toxic, so it’s safe to some point. However, it’s not entirely safe for the health of your teeth if you use it daily.
Charcoal toothpaste is quite abrasive. It can wear down the enamel in your teeth, leading to dentin exposure. This exposure can make your teeth look more “yellowish”, negating the whole purpose of a whitening product. In other words, if you use charcoal daily, you could end up having yellowish teeth instead of clear ones.
If you want to whiten your teeth, talk to your trusted Washington Heights dentist before using charcoal toothpaste.
What Are The Pros & Cons?
You can use your charcoal-based toothpaste once in a while, but not daily. Nonetheless, if you haven’t bought this paste yet, you may not have to! It’s a “myth” that it is the best natural ingredient to whiten your teeth. But, that doesn’t mean it has no benefits.
Here are some of its pros and cons to help you have peace of mind.
Pros:
- It helps you remove surface stains in a short term.
- It reduces halitosis or bad breath.
- It may help prevent surface staining if you use it after a professional cleaning (only once in a while).
Cons:
- Charcoal-based toothpaste is abrasive, so it may wear down tooth enamel.
- It doesn’t have any whitening effect because it cannot remove stains below the enamel.
- Daily use can cause tooth sensitivity.
- It can stain dental restorations (veneers, crowns, bridges, etc.)
- There is no proof of long-term effects, so you may use it cautiously.
Visit a Washington Heights Dental Clinic For More Information
The best you can do to keep your teeth naturally white is to maintain healthy dental habits. Brush your teeth at least twice a day with safe whitening toothpaste, drink less wine and coffee and visit your Washington Heights dentist often.
We recommend you visit Esthetix Dental Spa to make sure your teeth are in good health. At Esthetix Dental Spa you can also find reliable in-office teeth whitening procedures to obtain a healthy and shiny smile without damaging your enamel. Contact us now for more information.
Esthetix Dentist, NYC’s Dental Implant & Cosmetic Specialist
285 Fort Washington Ave,
New York, NY 10032
Phone: (212) 795-9675
Website: http://esthetixdentalspa.com/