Dental Clinic Looks

Introduction

According to Iqaluit Dental Clinic, activated charcoal is a fine grain powder that is made from natural substances such as coconut shells and wood that are oxidized under extreme heat. It has become a trendy ingredient in many cosmetic products such as commercial scrubs and face masks and, nowadays, you can even purchase charcoal toothpaste.

However, although charcoal toothpaste is promoted heavily for its ability to whiten your teeth by removing stains, it also has a few potential drawbacks that you must be aware of if you are considering using such toothpaste.

The pros of using charcoal toothpaste:

  1. It helps to remove extrinsic stains and make your teeth appear whiter – Brushing with toothpaste that contains activated charcoal can help to remove extrinsic stains that develop due to smoking, and consuming stain-producing food such as caffeine, wine, tobacco, and more. As a result, it can help you make your teeth appear whiter.

This is because activated charcoal is mildly abrasive and absorbent which helps to peel off and absorb the layer of stain above the enamel. However, they cannot remove intrinsic stains that appear below the enamel.

  1. It helps to freshen your breath – According to research, the activated charcoal in toothpaste binds with acidic components in your mouth which helps to increase the pH level of the oral cavity and remove the acidic components more easily. Due to its abrasive and absorbent nature, it also helps in the efficient removal of plaque. As a result, it helps to remove bad odours from your mouth.

The cons of using charcoal toothpaste:

  1. It can be too abrasive for daily use – Activated charcoal toothpaste is not suitable for daily use due to its abrasive nature. This is because if you use it daily to remove stains, it can wear down the enamel of the teeth and expose the underlying dentin, which is a calcified yellow tissue. This can not only make your teeth more sensitive but can also make them appear yellow.
  1. It might cause teeth staining – When you start using charcoal toothpaste daily, the charcoal particles can start to accumulate in the cracks and crevices of older teeth. As a result, it can cause teeth staining which is what you wanted to prevent in the first place.
  1. Most charcoal toothpaste brands don’t contain fluoride – Fluoride is one of the most important ingredients in toothpaste since it helps to strengthen tooth enamel and reduces the risk of cavities and tooth decay. Unfortunately, most charcoal toothpaste doesn’t contain fluoride and if you only use them, you increase the risk of tooth cavities and tooth decay.

Conclusion

Iqaluit Dental Clinic suggests you consider over-the-counter and professional whitening products such as whitening toothpaste, whitening strips, and more that are endorsed by the American Dental Association (ADA) instead of charcoal toothpaste. In most cases, these are safer to use and offer a more effective solution to your dental problems. Alternatively, you can consider natural home remedies such as baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and apple cider vinegar.