Drake is unequivocally one of the most popular rappers of this generation. His star power is so great, he can legitimize video games such as Fortnite, increasing their users by millions overnight. He can give accounts he retweets millions of followers, and now he can apparently sell toothpaste. Following a string of comments on one Drake’s recent Instagram posts, calling the rapper out for having dirty-looking teeth, Drake responded by breaking down his teeth brushing routine. “I brush with activated charcoal before any club night,” he said, spurring an influx of fans searching the internet for where to buy the product.
In this case, Drake’s star power may be misleading, as charcoal toothpaste can actually do more harm than good, especially if you’re looking to improve the whiteness of your teeth, and supercharge your oral health.
The Reason We Brush With Flouride
Fluoride has been proven through countless studies to be incredibly effective at actively protecting teeth from tooth decay. Fluoride helps your tooth enamel take in minerals. This strengthens it against cracking, wear, and, of course, tooth decay. In many cases, fluoride is actually more effective at fighting cavities than the act of brushing. That’s why you can simply apply toothpaste with your finger if you’ve forgotten your toothbrush.
While the highest rated toothpastes usually contain between 1350 and 1500 parts per million (ppm) of fluoride, charcoal toothpaste contains no fluoride, making it incredibly ineffective at cleaning teeth.
Charcoal Toothpaste Can Harm Enamel
According to a warning put out by the Oral Health Foundation, charcoal toothpaste can be abrasive, wearing away enamel and exposing teeth to decay. Abrasiveness is a common problem with whitening toothpastes. The problem is that abrasive toothpastes can seem like effective whiteners. They wear away the stained enamel, making the teeth look whiter, at first. Eventually, the enamel becomes so thin that the yellowish dentin shows through. When that happens, no whitening will be effective, you’ll need veneers to make your teeth brighter.
Professional Teeth Whitening
The popularity of charcoal toothpaste isn’t a surprise. Having yellow or stained teeth can become a constant source of embarrassment, affecting the way we interact with others. While charcoal toothpaste isn’t the best treatment for stained teeth, there are other treatments that are safer and more effective.
In-office professional whitening is one of the most common cosmetic dental procedures in the world. Stains are generally caused by a buildup of staining agents from food such as coffee, red wine, and alcohol that become stuck to the natural ridges of our enamel. Professional whitening works by dissolving these staining agents using a solution like peroxide. After the solution has been applied in three stages and activated by a light catalyst, results could give you a smile up to eight shades whiter. When combined with take-home whitening trays, results could last longer and be even more dramatic.
Even though we all want a smile like famous artists, charcoal toothpaste isn’t the best way to achieve this, especially when there are safer more effective options out there.
Are you unhappy with discolored teeth and want to learn which approach to teeth whitening is right for you? Please call (858) 271-1010 today for an appointment with Scripps Ranch cosmetic dentist Dr. Ramin Goshtasbi at Oasis Dental Arts.