In almost every departmental store in Livermore, California, you will notice charcoal-activated toothpaste. In recent years, activated charcoal toothpaste has become quite common, with social media users expressing claims that it can whiten teeth. But is activated charcoal really helpful? We are here to find out if it is safe and if it genuinely whitens teeth. For more information about charcoal toothpaste, contact a Livermore dentist.
Is it beneficial to use charcoal toothpaste to clean your teeth?
For a very long time, people have been using charcoal as a poison remedy since it may trap certain poisons and stop your body from absorbing them. It has also been used anecdotally as a natural therapy for gas prevention, cholesterol elimination, and even to cure hangovers. The most popular claim when it comes to teeth whitening is that it may help remove stains from wine, coffee, and other drinks, as well as help absorb plaque, all of which may stain other perfectly white teeth. However, there is not any solid scientific evidence confirming this idea.
Is There Any Risk to Your Teeth?
If you ignore the fact that activated charcoal is abrasive, it is not harmful to your teeth in the short term. However, if you brush with it, it will not have enough time to settle on the top layer of your teeth and have any significant whitening effect. It is also crucial to know the difference between whitening your teeth and just removing stains, which is the leading advertising point of toothpaste with activated charcoal. The first, as the name suggests, involves eliminating unappealing stains from the enamel. This usually happens with the help of dental professionals and their specialized equipment.
On the other hand, whitening is a procedure that genuinely changes the primary color of your teeth, which differs from person to person because of things like enamel thickness. Therefore, based on what is behind your enamel, your teeth might still look somewhat yellow even after you remove surface stains.
Does charcoal toothpaste actually whiten teeth?
Some materials with minor abrasion can whiten; theoretically, activated charcoal powder may whiten teeth by removing surface stains (extrinsic stains). Deep stains cannot be removed by charcoal. Unlike natural bleaching agents, it does not possess a bleaching effect. Use baking soda instead of whitening your teeth; it is safer.
Although it cannot prevent upcoming plaque from settling into your teeth and giving them a yellow hue, charcoal may help in the removal of yellowish plaque formation. If you choose to use charcoal toothpaste, try not to use it more than twice per week. Regular use will likely result in tooth sensitivity over time and damaged enamel.
Are there any disadvantages of using charcoal teeth whitening powder?
The whitening effect of charcoal toothpaste and powder is equal to that of a toothbrush or napkin. It is often surpassed by whitening strips, hydrogen peroxide, and even blue covarine.
However, there are disadvantages to using activated charcoal.
1. Abrasive
The charcoal is actually abrasive. Imagine using sandpaper to clean your teeth. It is harmful to the health of your teeth.
There are two negative effects of rubbing charcoal-based toothpaste against your teeth:
- Damages the enamel of your teeth
- Destroys the surface of your teeth
2. More surface stains
The previously discussed rough tooth surface promotes the formation of plaque on your teeth by bacteria.
Since charcoal stains teeth, it could leave you more vulnerable to tooth discoloration in the future.
Additionally, veneers or teeth with rough edges may collect charcoal, which may result in gray or black stains.
3. Tooth Sensitivity
The enamel of your teeth gets destroyed by charcoal. Teeth sensitivity increases and tooth structure weakens when dental enamel is thinner.
Gingivitis, cavities, broken teeth, and damaged dental work are some more causes why teeth become sensitive.