Known for its virtues detoxifying and purifying, vegetable charcoal is everywhere: on our plates, in our lattes, in our masks for the face but also… in our toothpastes! And yet it would not have the effect whitening expected, according to American dentists of theOral Health Foundationwhich call for vigilance.
Ineffective and harmful?
“Plant charcoal toothpaste is gaining popularity with celebrities advertising it on social media, but we believe consumers may be misled. Most of the time, these celebrities enjoyed a teeth whitening professional and their white smiles are not directly linked to the use of vegetable charcoal”, explains Dr. Nigel Carter, president of this foundation. This type of toothpaste would actually eliminate them tasks surface present on the teeth, without really changing the color.
In addition to being ineffective, this vegetable charcoal product would also be harmful since it would increase the risk of cavities. And for good reason: a good toothpaste should contain 1350 to 1500 parts per million (ppm) of fluorine to protect the teeth, but rare are the vegetable charcoal toothpastes that reach this level. The dentists of the Oral Health Foundation therefore advise against its use, especially since “some of these products can be abrasive and, if used too often, can damage the enamel of the teeth, which which causes sensitivity,” they conclude.
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