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Brushing With Charcoal?!



Charcoal is great for roasting marshmallows when you go camping. It can also come in handy during arts and crafts. So it makes perfect sense that you would want to use it to brush your teeth....wait...what?


Over the past year or two there has been a large surge of charcoal toothpastes in the oral health community. The advertising campaign for charcoal toothpastes has been vast including celebrity endorsements and facebook ads. These ads were created to be seen as the new exciting way to whiten and clean your teeth. But is it safe?

 

Little to no research has been done that successfully shows charcoal toothpaste as being a good substitute for other types of toothpastes. What we do know about charcoal toothpaste is that it is an abrasive substance that can cause wear to the enamel over time. The American Dental Association has stated "There is no evidence that shows dental products with charcoal are safe or effective for your teeth... Also, using abrasive materials on your teeth can actually make them look more yellow." (Read more from this source HERE.)


In the long run, the potential risks of charcoal toothpaste outweigh the small whitening effect that it may have. I suggest not using charcoal toothpastes until much more research has been done on the safety and efficacy of these products. 


Devin Bowyer, DDS

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