Three Reasons To Reconsider Buying Charcoal Toothpaste

Dentist Blog

Charcoal toothpaste seems to be all the craze lately. There are plenty of benefits being talked about all over the Internet. However, not many people are also aware of some of the more concerning parts of using charcoal toothpaste. Here are three of those concerns you need to think about before buying charcoal toothpaste:

  1. Eroding Enamel: First off, buying the wrong kind of charcoal toothpaste can be much too eroding for your teeth. When the enamel is damaged, it can cause a problem because this weakens the teeth. When the teeth are weakened, they are more prone to staining, decay, and more. So be sure that you are choosing the right charcoal toothpaste. The best way to check for its abrasive qualities is to look at the RDA on the packaging. This indicates the relative dentin abrasivity, which should not be higher than 250. If so, don't buy it. Once you do buy charcoal toothpaste, take note of how it feels in your mouth. It shouldn't feel too gritty. If so, even if the RDA number is low, it is still a bit concerning and worth looking into a different brand. 
  2. Toxicity: Depending on where the source of the charcoal is coming from, it could have toxicity problems. To stay on the safe side, always be sure that the product is coming from the United States and that the charcoal is being sourced from a non-toxic source, such as coconut shells. 
  3. It Doesn't Whiten: Finally, you need to be sure that you know that charcoal toothpaste does not whiten the teeth like any whitening solution at the dentist. In fact, charcoal toothpaste is just a bit better at removing stains, but it does not whiten. It only removes surface stains, but nothing that has been set in. If you are looking to buy charcoal simply to whiten your smile, you might be disappointed, especially if you are paying much more than you normally would on toothpaste. 

While these are some concerns to think about, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't use charcoal toothpaste since it does have some benefits, which includes improving bad breath and being a more natural source compared to chemically infused toothpaste. These concerns just mean that you should be mindful of what type of charcoal toothpaste you are purchasing and whether or not it's the right type of toothpaste for you or whether you should look into something else. To learn more, contact a dentist office like Milner Dentistry. 

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7 November 2017

Coping With Dental Emergencies

My son was outside playing with some friends when he accidentally fell down and hit his mouth on the sidewalk. The fall knocked out his front tooth, so I immediately placed the tooth in a small jar and added some milk. I rushed my son to the dental clinic and the dentist immediately took us into the examination room. The dentist placed the tooth back into the socket and saved it. My name is Beverly Tillman and thanks to the quick work of the dentist, my son didn't lose his tooth. Since this was a scary time for me and my son, I wanted to write this blog as a source of information for other parents who are facing a dental emergency. First of all, don't panic and get to your dentist as soon as possible. I hope this blog will help to answer your questions about dental emergencies.