Charcoal toothpastes, mouthwashes and other products have been around for a few years and are becoming more popular with people wanting a simple and quick fix to whiten their teeth.
Watch this weeks episode, where Ketan our practice principal discusses potential issues that may be caused by charcoal toothpastes and will hopefully help you make a balanced decision as to whether to use these products.
Charcoal toothpastes contain “activated charcoal” which is different to what you would use for a barbeque. There have not been enough long term and comprehensive studies carried out on charcoal products and how effective, or damaging to the teeth they are.
Our main dental concerns are as follows:
- Such toothpastes can be very abrasive and can cause damage to enamel and wear down teeth as a result
- Many do not contain fluoride, which most regular toothpastes do contain and is well know to help protect the teeth and help reduce the risk of dental decay
- They do not whiten the teeth, but can help remove superficial staining which gives a brighter appearance
Our advice at Brightside Dental would be to use a fluoride containing toothpaste and possibly use a gentler whitening toothpaste for stain removal. Ensure you have regular dental assessments and hygienist visits to keep your mouth in the best condition. If you do want to improve your smile and the colour of your teeth, professional teeth whitening may be the best and safest long term solution.
For any help or advice, email us or call on 020 88884401.
