A rising trend in dental care is charcoal, which some say can whiten teeth at home, prevent cavities, and improve breath. Many companies are including activated charcoal in their toothpastes, but others question whether or not this dark dentifrice can actually improve your smile’s appearance. You can consult our dentist in Sylvan Lake if you have any questions.
Debunking Myths: Is Charcoal Teeth Whitening Safe?
To be clear, activated charcoal is not used for shining. Instead, it’s a dark powder formed from peat, olive pits, coconut shells, and slowly burning wood. Numerous businesses use it in facial masks and shampoos since it is extremely adsorbent.
Some people think that activated charcoal also whitens teeth because it can bind to pollutants. However, some people include it in toothpaste and other dental supplies. It is said that by using these charcoal-based solutions on your teeth, you can get rid of plaque, wine stains, and even coffee stains.
Does Activated Charcoal Powder Whiten Teeth?
Although most substances with a little abrasion can do that, activated charcoal powder technically whitens teeth by removing surface stains. Deep stains can’t be removed with charcoal. It lacks the actual whitening chemicals’ bleaching effect. The best way to whiten your smile safely is to stick with baking soda.
Although charcoal can aid in the removal of yellowish plaque buildup, it cannot stop new plaque from adhering to your teeth in the future and generating a yellow tint. Use charcoal toothpaste only twice a week, or you can also opt for teeth whitening in Sylvan Lake. Daily use would probably cause dental enamel damage and long-term sensitivity.
Risks of Charcoal Teeth Whitening
There are undoubtedly drawbacks to activated charcoal.
Abrasiveness
Charcoal has high abrasiveness. Imagine using sandpaper to scrape your teeth. It is detrimental to the health of your teeth. Two negative effects can result from brushing your teeth with activated charcoal toothpaste and they are: the degradation of enamel and the erosion of your teeth’s surfaces.
Additional Surface Stains
Plaque on your teeth is more easily formed by bacteria due to the rough tooth surface we mentioned earlier. Charcoal may actually increase your risk for future tooth discolouration since plaque colors your teeth. Additionally, charcoal can build up on the rough surfaces of teeth or veneers, resulting in dark or light stains.
Tooth Resistance
Your tooth enamel is worn down by charcoal. A weaker tooth structure and greater tooth sensitivity are caused by dental enamel that is thinner. Gingivitis, cavities, broken teeth, or damaged dental work are some additional causes of tooth sensitivity that can be sorted out with your dentist near you.
Medical Interruption
Because activated charcoal reduces how much some drugs are absorbed by your body, it may conflict with several medications. In addition to medicines, charcoal also decreases nutritional absorption.
How to Prevent Tooth Stains?
Here are the top 5 methods for keeping your pearly white teeth stain-free:
- To avoid tooth stains, practice proper dental hygiene every day.
To get rid of food particles and dangerous germs that induce tooth decay, bad breath, and an unbalanced microbiome, brush and floss many times per day. Instead of using charcoal toothpaste that will harm your dental health, switch to a nutritious prebiotic fluoride-free toothpaste. - Reduce your intake of tooth-harming foods.
Examples include coffee, red wine, acidic foods, and sweets. Replace these meals with delights that are good for your teeth, like crisp fruits or vegetables, foods high in calcium, and green tea. - Eliminate harmful oral germs.
Techniques like oil pulling lowers your chance of creating cavities, gum disease, and tooth discoloration. Natural antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties exist in coconut oil. And it encourages clean breath! - Develop a healthy oral microbiota.
Reduce your carb intake, stay away from alcohol that dries out your mouth, and consider taking oral probiotics to replace healthy flora in your mouth. If your microbiome is out of balance, dangerous bacteria may develop more quickly on the surface of your teeth, resulting in yellow teeth stains. - It is important to visit the dentist twice a year.
Your teeth should be cleaned by a dentist every six months, who should also be on the lookout for any early indications of oral illness.
Discuss Better Whitening Options with a Dentist
But charcoal toothpaste can’t make your teeth whiter. In reality, it may damage teeth. You can discuss teeth whitening near you with a licensed dentist. Make an appointment with Sylvan Lake Dental Centre so you can have a dazzling smile!