Maybe it’s just trendy but I’ve recently switched to using charcoal toothpaste and I love it. Last week I bought charcoal toothbrushes and definitely like them as well.
What’s been your experience?
Tell us why you like it! I’ve never heard of it.
My two kids still living at home use it, and I have to occasionally yell at them about the mess. I thought it was just a trendy thing though, what do you like about it? I think one of my kids said something about it being very good at whitening.
Pretty much that. It seems to be good at whitening and doesn’t have the awful taste that most whitening toothpastes have. I definitely feel clean after using it as well, almost at just left the dentist clean level.
What do dentists think of them?
Do they damage tooth enamel?
I used a tube of charcoal toothpaste a year or two ago. It cost more, it seemed to have a good cleaning effect, but there was nothing dramatic. I have never seen charcoal toothbrushes.
Years ago I sometimes used something called Pearl Drops, which seemed to be more abrasive and gave results more like a dental cleaning. I assume that it should only be occasionally, though, as I suspect that it abrades the enamel.
In the search for dental excellence I have also used so-called enamel repair toothpastes (hard to tell if they work) and special toothpaste for electric toothbrushes. Both seemed OK, but again, you don’t see much difference.
The most effective thing I have found is a tooth powder called Vicco, which was recommended by my dentist. It seems to get the film off your teeth better than anything else, and it is not abrasive.
I have not bothered with any whitening product, although my teeth could use one, as the home-use ones are not very effective from what I have heard.
Charcoal turns my teeth black- just for a very short time. A good rinse gets rid of it.
However, I need to point out that the quest for white teeth is damaging to them. Teeth arent supposed to be white, more of a pale ivory. Now sure if your teeth are stained, then try something if you want to.
I think white teeth look ridiculous. Pink or blue or lavender would make just as much sense.
Yep. Especially those blindingly white teeth.
Mind you deeply stained teeth look bad also.
I’ve tried charcoal toothpaste. It’s fine, although it may stain your sink.
However, I drink way too much tea to have any hope of ever having unstained teeth again.
Please read the label on your charcoal toothpaste! Mine says it should only be used a few times a week. The stuff i have is quite gritty. If the stuff you’re using is like mine, it’s too harsh for daily use.
I haven’t tried the charcoal with an electric toothbrush yet! I bet it will really feel dentist-clean.
Excellent point and great advice!
…and, now that you mention it, I do appear to have a toothbrush with plastic bristles “infused with activated charcoal.” They look black. I have not noticed any noticeable extra grit.
I’ve tried charcoal soaps and charcoal deodorants and noticed nothing different.
I just skipped the charcoal and went straight to using a Dremel with a grinding stone. Not only are my teeth white but they come to very sharp points!
My DDS told me to use anti-tartar, and when I moved to Philippines four years ago, the only box that said tartar control on it was charcoal, so I bought it. No difference I can detect. In the third world, you can’t get those 12-oz 79c tubes of Ultra-brite that WalMart puts on the bottom shelf.