Charcoal Toothpaste: What Most Dentists Think

Charcoal toothpaste is touted as something that can whiten teeth better and safer while detoxifying your gums. In general dentistry, dentists have a lot to say about this particular product. If you are tempted to try it, there are some things you should know about it first.

It Tastes Unpleasant and Looks Terrible When You Are Using It

Imagine taking charcoal briquettes from your grill and crushing them into a powder. Then you add that to baking soda and a toothpaste base. That is what charcoal toothpaste is. It looks like you are chewing black licorice when you brush with it, and the hint of mint that some companies put into the paste does not disguise the taste of the charcoal very well. If you brush with a charcoal toothpaste that does not contain mint flavoring, it is very unpleasant to taste. 

It Is Very Abrasive to Your Enamel

Brushing with baking soda and ground charcoal is very abrasive. It is so abrasive in fact that it can damage the enamel on your teeth if you brush with it consistently. If you want to remove stains from your teeth, a dental whitening is less harmful to your teeth than the charcoal toothpaste. If you do not have time to visit your dentist for teeth whitening and you do not have time to buy a whitening strips kit from store shelves and use it, a single, one-time use of charcoal toothpaste is okay to remove some dental discoloration. Just do not use this paste every time you brush your teeth.

It Does Not Offer Much in the Way of "Detox"

When you think of "detox" products, you think of something that pulls toxins and poisons from your body. Most detoxification products have to remain on or in part of your body for a while to make a difference in your health. However, even if you spend three minutes brushing your teeth with a charcoal toothpaste, this product is not likely to provide much in the way of detoxification benefits. Additionally, if you do not rinse thoroughly after using this toothpaste, you may leave some of the charcoal behind, which could cause either some embarrassment when you smile or a minor infection in your gums. Still, if you want to try this product to see what it is like, it is relatively non-toxic. Most dentists would probably tell you to skip it, but that is up to you.

Ask your dentist if charcoal toothpaste is okay for you to use, because they know your teeth better than anyone.