With the rise of wellness movements and alternative health, there’s now more products than ever that claim to improve your health and life. And toothpaste is not removed from this movement.
If you’ve been on the internet recently, you’ve probably seen ads for charcoal toothpastes and other natural toothpastes. With so many trends and products like these in the market, it can be difficult to know what actually works and what could actually be causing more harm than good.
Luckily, we’ve done all the research for you. Keep reading below to learn more about what the latest toothpaste trends are really doing to your oral health.
Coconut Oil
While coconut oil is a helpful cosmetic and cooking oil, when it comes to your dental health it’s likely ineffective.
Coconut oil is claimed to improve dental health and whiten teeth through antibacterial qualities that help prevent the buildup of plaque. However, there is no scientific proof that coconut oil is beneficial to your oral health.
Coconut oil is likely ineffective but unlikely to cause you harm, aside from the potential of diarrhoea or upset stomach if ingest.
Charcoal Toothpaste
Charcoal is one of the biggest new cosmetic trends. Activated charcoal can be found listed in a variety of skin care products, and now is the key selling ingredient in many toothpastes. These products claim that activated charcoal helps whiten teeth by acting as a polish agent that removes impurities on the teeth.
However, research shows that there is inadequate clinical data to prove the safety and effectiveness of charcoal-based products for oral health. Product claim are unverified and consumers are cautioned to be aware of what is in these products since in the long run they could be doing more harm than good.
Charcoal products are very abrasive and most are able to only remove superficial stains. However, this means they are actually damaging the enamel on the teeth which could cause irreversible damage.
Further, charcoal toothpastes do not contain enough fluoride to protect teeth from decay, leaving teeth still more vulnerable.
Sea Salt Toothpaste
Sea salt tooth paste is claimed to whiten teeth since it is made up of sodium chloride which is believed to help remove stains because of how abrasive it is. It is also claimed that salt encourages saliva production which is believed to keep the mouth naturally healthy and fight against plaque-causing bacteria.
Similar to the downfalls of charcoal toothpastes, abrasive sea salt toothpastes can cause irreversible damage to your tooth enamel. It’s also unlikely to carry the right ingredients to protect your teeth from decay.