Tooth Whitening Best Option For Long Lasting Smiles
llume welcomes research saying claims that products containing activated charcoal can whiten your teeth have been exaggerated – especially as only dentists are legally licensed to offer tooth whitening treatments.
The Journal of the American Dental Association has published research which says that there is insufficient clinical and laboratory data to substantiate the safety and efficacy claims of charcoal and charcoal-based oral health products.
Activated charcoal appears in everything from face masks, deodorant, lip balm and, increasingly frequently, in toothpaste, with many being endorsed by celebrities but shoppers may be being misled and, more importantly, not getting enough of the ingredients which actively protect their teeth, the research adds.
Tim Rumney, practice owner and non-clinical director at Illume, says: “These activated charcoal products are endorsed by celebrities but what many people are not aware of is that many of them will have had professional tooth whitening beforehand and their white smiles are not a direct result of using the product.
“Many toothpastes which claim to whiten teeth simply remove surface stains and will not offer the long-lasting bright white smiles which many users may be seeking.
“More importantly, for our clients and members of the wider community, is that many of these toothpastes do not contain enough fluoride to prevent tooth decay.
“Toothpaste needs to contain 1350 to 1,500 parts per million (ppm) of fluoride to actively protect teeth from tooth decay, but many of the current toothpastes which contain activated charcoal fall well below this level and are putting users at an increased risk of tooth decay.
“At best we can say charcoal toothpaste may help remove stains but its efficiency and safety have not been fully tested or endorsed.
“At worst it may lack certain important components and may also have a negative effect. The toothpaste can be very messy to use and can lead to grey or black staining at the edges of fillings and crowns potentially necessitating their replacement.
“There are many reasons why people want to have whiter teeth and it is important to understand that the only way to get the white teeth many people desire is through professional tooth whitening services provided by a dental professional.
“So if you want whiter, brighter teeth, then please call to make an appointment and find out how we can help,” he added.