Q.
My daughter-in-law raves about the charcoal toothpaste she recently purchased, saying it really helps whiten teeth. But is it safe?
A. Charcoal toothpaste has recently become a trendy choice in teeth whitening, joining the ever-growing ranks of whitening products lining store shelves. It contains activated carbon, which is a fine powder made from coconut shells, wood and other natural substances that are oxidized under heat. Since it is abrasive, it can indeed help remove surface stains on teeth, but there is no evidence that it works on stains below the enamel, limiting its effectiveness.
Although using charcoal on teeth is safe in small doses, you should not use this type of toothpaste every day. It is simply too abrasive for this task, risking damage to tooth enamel, the protective outer covering of the teeth. Charcoal toothpaste can even inadvertently stain teeth when charcoal particles get stuck in tiny tooth cracks or leave teeth gray or black around the edges. Finally, most charcoal toothpastes do not contain fluoride, which protects your teeth against cavities. It is better to opt for a standard toothpaste containing fluoride rather than a newer, trendy product.
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