For a long time, charcoal has been considered to be an effective ingredient for whitening. People were earlier using charcoal for brushing teeth but with today’s lifestyle the trend has seen a decline. In this fast-paced life, nobody really has the time to extract charcoal and use it for brushing their teeth. With the introduction of charcoal based toothpastes and charcoal’s history the product saw a rise in use and became popular. Before trying anything it’s imperative to do your research, is charcoal good for teeth? Is it bad? Does it have any side-effects? Let’s find out.
What is Charcoal Toothpaste?
Charcoal with its ability to whiten teeth and its many other benefits attached to oral health, it has now become a trendy ingredient. Activated charcoal is considered to be beneficial for teeth and oral health. There are many benefits of charcoal for teeth such as stain removal, white teeth, plaque removal and dryness. Charcoal has natural tooth whitening effects which helps you maintain your white teeth. To derive the best result, use charcoal toothpaste for brushing and fluoride-based mouthwash.
Pros of Using Charcoal Toothpaste for Whitening
Charcoal has gained immense popularity over the years because of its properties of whitening teeth. Charcoal tooth whitening is becoming more relevant because it is easy to use and less expensive compared to teeth whitening treatments. The pros of using charcoal toothpaste are-
Remove Stains- Activated charcoal works best in stain removal from teeth. Activated charcoal is good for your teeth because of its abrasive properties of removing coffee, tea and wine stains from your teeth.
Removes Bad Breath- Brushing your teeth with charcoal toothpaste will help fight the bad breath. Bad breath can be a result of poor oral hygiene and some underlying dental problems. Regular brushing will help you keep up with proper dental hygiene.
Less Expensive- Charcoal is good for your teeth. It is easy to use and less expensive. You can purchase charcoal toothpaste at relatively low prices and observe the benefits of charcoal for teeth.
Natural Whitening- Using an activated charcoal toothpaste can give you natural white teeth. You can use it after having any bright-coloured food and beverages.
Cons of Using Charcoal Toothpaste for Whitening
Although charcoal is good for your teeth, it has some cons attached. Excessive use of anything is dangerous and so is the use of charcoal for teeth whitening.
Enamel Erosion- Charcoal has many tooth benefits but excessive use and overbrushing with charcoal can lead to enamel erosion. It abrades the outer layer exposing the inner layer (Cementum is the layer that gets abraded exposing the roots).
Tooth Sensitivity- It can cause tooth sensitivity with excessive usage.
Scientific Evidence and Expert Opinions
Scientific evidence suggests that Charcoal toothpaste absorbs the stains and helps in teeth whitening, removing extrinsic stains due to tea, coffee and wine. There were studies by researchers and it has been found that charcoal is good for teeth and using charcoal toothpaste can help you in tooth whitening. For stains that occur due to tea, coffee and wine, charcoal acts beneficial for tooth stains.
However, studies also suggest that excessive use of activated charcoal can abrade the enamel, exposing the inner dentin. Charcoal toothpaste is a type of toothpaste containing activated charcoal, both of them are a similar thing.
Tips for Safe Use of Charcoal Toothpaste
Due to charcoal’s abrasive properties, it is not recommended to use it regularly. However, you can use charcoal toothpaste while maintaining some tips.
Limited Usage- You can use charcoal toothpaste but don’t overdo it. Overbrushing with charcoal toothpaste can wear down the enamel.
Charcoal Powder- Along with charcoal teeth, charcoal powder has many tooth benefits which can be used.
Rinse Thoroughly- Rinse your mouth thoroughly after brushing with charcoal toothpaste.
Brush Gently- Aggressive brushing or overbrushing can wear the enamel. It is advisable to brush gently. Check Perfora’s brushes for better results.
Certified Products- Always purchase certified charcoal toothpaste for use.
Add Flouride- Add fluoride-based mouthwash or toothpaste to complement charcoal toothpaste that does not contain fluoride for better results and good oral health.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it good to brush your teeth with charcoal?
Answer- Charcoal has gained immense popularity over the years and research has shown that charcoal has many teeth benefits such as stain removal, controlling bad breath and removing bacteria. Therefore, it is safe to use unless and until it is overused.
2. Do dentists recommend charcoal?
Answer- The scientists have not found any evidence that can speak in favour of it but brushing your teeth with charcoal toothpaste twice or thrice a week will not harm your teeth.
3. Is charcoal in toothpaste safe?
Answer- Charcoal toothpaste is too abrasive to use regularly. Limiting its usage to twice or thrice a week along with fluoride-based toothpaste or mouthwash is relatively safe.
4. Is activated charcoal bad for teeth?
Answer- Activated charcoal is bad for teeth only when you use it regularly. If you overbrush with charcoal toothpaste, the chances of your enamel wearing down increase.