Does Charcoal Toothpaste Whiten Teeth?

People can use black charcoal toothpaste, which has gained a lot of popularity among people who would like to have white teeth. It has been a great appeal to many to have an opportunity to have a bright smile through a cheap natural product. However, does charcoal toothpaste deliver on the hype? The Tidwell Road Family Dentist at Stellar Dental speaks on the working potential, dangers, and ways to attain safe and permanent bleaching of the teeth.

What Is Charcoal Toothpaste?

Charcoal toothpaste contains activated charcoal, a type of carbon that has been passed through tiny particles through a process known as activation. They are claimed to identify the stains and poisons on the teeth and subsequently clean the tooth’s surface to present a sparkling white color.

As for charcoal toothpaste whitening, its supporters report that the abrasive component helps to shed the color produced by coffee, wine, or smoking, yet it doesn’t employ toxic substances. Furthermore, it is claimed to be a natural product for those people who do not want to use fluoride or any artificial additives in their oral care.

Science Behind Charcoal Toothpaste Whitening

Although there are many cases when one buys charcoal toothpaste to eliminate the stain on the surface, it is crucial to remember that it cannot do more than that. Yes, because charcoal can be abrasive; although it can gently polish the surface of your teeth and can remove some of the outer layers of stains, it isn’t used to whiten your teeth in the same way specialist treatments or some whitening products are.

Tish has an outer surface for hard enamel and below it is a layer of dentin which determines the natural colour of your teeth. When whitening treatments get through the outer layer of the teeth, the enamel, and interact with the under layer, the dentin, then the teeth are whitened authentic. While charcoal toothpaste may remove surface stains and is not capable of changing the colour of the dentin itself or the tooth’s root.

Risks Of Using Charcoal Toothpaste

While using charcoal toothpaste whitening is so common, there are certain risks associated with this method. The major problem has been the roughness of activated charcoal. Although scraping agents such as baking soda can remove stains from the teeth, a highly abrasive agent like charcoal toothpaste gradually erodes the outer layer of teeth.

If the enamel has been eroded, then the tooth structure cannot grow back again. While the outer layer wears off to expose the dark yellowish dentin layer, thinning of the enamel also exposes areas that will make the teeth appear darker.

Here are the key risks highlighted by the Tidwell Road Family

• Dentist at Stellar Dental:
  Enamel Damage: You could also get a toothache and other forms of tooth sensitivity when you begin using charcoal toothpaste because it removes the outer layer of your teeth.
• No Fluoride Protection: Common defects of most charcoal toothpaste include a lack of fluorides, which are important in enhancing enamel and preventing the formation of cavities.
• Gum Irritation: Charcoal is somewhat coarse, and this may hurt the tender gum when used vigorously or for a long time.
• Staining: Interestingly, long-term use leads to the formation of black deposits on the teeth and gums, and therefore, if a person brushes his or her teeth with charcoal toothpaste, the teeth will appear to be stained black.

Professional Opinion from Tidwell Road Family Dentist

The Dental Health Tidwell Road Family Dentist from Stellar Dental advises that charcoal toothpaste is best used in moderation. Though it may remove superficial stains, in the long run, it can cause more harm, particularly to your enamel. They recommend that patients avoid using charcoal toothpaste and use only safe and effective practices for whitening teeth.

Here are the dentist’s top tips for maintaining a bright, healthy smile:

• Use Whitening Toothpaste with Fluoride: Most nonprescription whitening toothpastes are gentle and contain a mild abrasive to polish away stains that have accumulated on the enamel. Choose such options with fluoride since they will also help you fight cavities on your teeth.
• Professional Whitening Treatments: If you want instant and fast results that are way darker: professional teeth whitening in the dental chair or using a dentist’s take-home kit, which penetrates the surface and works on deeper layers of the tooth enamel without causing any harm to your teeth.
• Regular Dental Cleanings: Standard brushing might not cleanse a few regions of plaque buildup and surface-level stains as the pros can. It will also keep your dentist acquainted with your case to note any other problems with your enamel or gums if any.

Safer Alternatives To Charcoal Toothpaste Whitening

As for the alternative procedures for eliminating the appearance of charcoal toothpaste whitening, there are many safer and more efficient ones. Some of the most popular include:

• Over-the-Counter Whitening Strips: These strips include hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which dissolves these stains in the structure of the enamel. Although they may not be as efficient and powerful as professional treatments, the use of these two types of bleaching solutions is considered safe for daily usage.
• Whitening Toothpaste: Whitening toothpaste can help remove stains on the surface of your teeth, protect from cavities, and strengthen tooth enamel. As stated below, these toothpastes are relatively safer compared to charcoal toothpaste in their regular use.
• Professional Whitening Treatments: When seeking the highest and longest-lasting value rewards, professional dental treatments, including the above procedures, are the best. These treatments involve using higher concentrations of whitening agents in the formulation of gels used in treating teeth and gums.
• Teeth-Friendly Foods: Ironically, certain crunchy foods such as apples, celery, and carrots are as effective as toothpicks because besides curling your tongue, they induce saliva production and help to clean your teeth.

What To Expect From Professional Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening carried out scientifically at Stellar Dental is a highly regulated method of attaining a better tooth color. As part of an in-office treatment, your dentist places a powerful bleaching gel on your teeth and she or he may then activate the gel using a light or laser instrument. It generally only takes about an hour and guarantees that the teeth can become several shades lighter.

Another option that your dentist may choose is a home kit because it will come with custom trays and a lower-concentration gel. The downside of this process, however, is that it is longer than the instructions given by other companies, but it gives gradual whitening without the high possibility of sensitivity or irritation.

Conclusion

Even though using charcoal toothpaste whitening can remove some of the surface stains at once, various side effects like damaging of the enamel and irritation of the gums should not be overlooked.

Tidwell Road Family Dentist in Stellar Dental advised the patient to opt for safer and more effective ways like professional whitening or fluoridated whitening toothpaste. Caring for our teeth and attaining the color we desire for our teeth should go hand in hand. Overall you can decide on simple, safe techniques, which your dentist approves and which are aimed at strengthening your enamel, eliminating sensitivity, and giving you a beautiful white smile in the long run. If you want to get a free consultation about teeth whitening and oral health maintenance do not hesitate to visit Stellar Dental and talk with a Tidwell Road Family Dentist.