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Supporting Your Practice

Monthly Myth Busters: Is Charcoal Toothpaste Good for Teeth?

CDA Oasis is bringing back our myth buster series. Once a month we’ll uncover the facts about common dentistry myths and misinformation to set the record straight about oral health treatment, prevention, and trends. We’ll also be sharing resources and information to help dentists talk with patients about emerging and enduring myths.

This month, we’re taking on a trend that has infiltrated the beauty, self-care, and wellness spheres and become a hot and hotly contested personal-care product: charcoal. Or more specifically, charcoal toothpaste.

True or false? Charcoal toothpaste has antibacterial properties and is a natural way to clean and whiten teeth.

False. Currently, there is no scientific evidence that charcoal toothpaste is better for oral health than regular fluoride toothpaste. While many charcoal toothpastes on the market claim to whiten teeth, to contain antibacterial agents, and to be natural and environmentally friendly, authors of a paper recently published in the British Dental Journal did not find any evidence supporting these benefits. It may instead be the case that people with poor oral hygiene and who use charcoal toothpaste may experience enamel damage and more cavities caused by its abrasiveness.

Have your patients asked you about brushing with charcoal toothpastes?

Leave a comment about in the box below, send your feedback by email or call us at 1-855-716-2747.co

Until next time!

CDA Oasis Team

Article

Charcoal-containing dentifrices, Linda H. Greenwall, Joseph Greenwall-Cohen, Nairn H. F. Wilson, British Dental Journal, volume 226, pages 697–700, (2019)

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