Month: March 2020

Everything You Need to Know About Charcoal Toothpaste | Dr. Adesanya | Professional Teeth Whitening | My Bowie Dentist

Everything You Need to Know About Charcoal Toothpaste

When it comes to the preparation of some of our favorite grilled foods, charcoal plays a very important role. However, emerging research has come to establish that the usage of charcoal can go beyond food preparation as we know it. With the emergence of activated charcoal being used in toothpaste these days for teeth whitening, a lot of companies who manufacture this charcoal-based toothpaste tend to leave out a lot of details when it comes to the usage and effectiveness of the product. There are new trends all the time, not all of them are safe and effective. In addition to recommending a safe whitening routine, you can also discuss professional teeth whitening at your next appointment.

As a general rule of thumb, your toothpaste should contain fluoride AND have the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal on the toothpaste indicating that it is safe for use.

Is Charcoal Teeth Whitening Safe?

While activated charcoal is safe to ingest, in most instances charcoal toothpaste is abrasive on teeth and can wear down the enamel, bringing a new set of problems. Many choose to use charcoal toothpaste as a means of whitening teeth, however as the charcoal wears down the enamel it exposes the dentin layer, which is a yellow color. By wearing down the enamel, it also leaves your teeth more susceptible to harmful bacteria which can cause cavities.

Why Charcoal Toothpaste is NOT Recommended

According to Colgate, the research conducted around charcoal toothpaste is still emerging and there are still a lot of unknown effects of the product. While the product has not been proven to be completely bad for human health, users should exercise caution and take into account that many brands also do not contain fluoride. Fluoride is essential for keeping your tooth’s enamel sturdy, whilst protecting it against cavities and decay. Certain researchers have even related the product to tooth decay, especially because the particles tend to accumulate in the tiniest cracks in older teeth. According to ABC, a number of people have also reported having burns and mouth ulcers from using the product.

Traditional toothpaste, however, is still known for its effectiveness and has a lot of extensive research done to prove its credibility. Hence, it is important for people to not get swayed by controversial ads that constantly posit that certain teeth conditions require the use of charcoal toothpaste.

In the event of any tooth or mouth defects, most experts agree that the best thing to do would be to see your dentist. The mouth is a very delicate area in the body, so self-medication is not the safest habit to adopt, especially not with a questionable toothpaste containing charcoal as a base ingredient.

Verification is an extremely important part of any treatment process and gambling with various dental trends in the dental industry could end up making your condition worse, especially without proper expert consultation. If you’re still not sure, contact our office to schedule an appointment to speak with one of our hygienists or Dr. Adesanya himself.

When it comes to how charcoal toothpaste interacts with dental restorations like crowns, white fillings, and veneers, there isn’t much information depicting any negative consequences. However, charcoal particles could also build up between them or leave them colored.
Recommended Ways to Whiten Teeth

Although charcoal might seem to be the next best option regarding teeth whitening, there are so many other tested and proven methods for getting whiter teeth, these include;

● Brush after consuming tea, coffee, soda, and other items that could stain your teeth.
● Whitening toothpaste.
● Whitening strips.
● Book an appointment to discuss professional teeth whitening services.

However, while these are some alternative products, schedule an appointment with Dr. Adesanya to discuss what may be your best course of action as not every method is effective for everyone. This helps ensure that you are getting a product that is adequately tailored to your teeth whitening needs after proper examination. It would also ensure that you get faster and more effective results.

Professional Teeth Whitening in Bowie, Maryland

Dr. Adesanya and staff are ready to answer your questions and recommend affordable teeth whitening solutions. Our office also offers professional teeth whitening services. With patients that call Dr. Adesanya the best dentist in Bowie, Maryland, he takes pride in his work and in the level of care he provides to every single patient. With a focus on general and cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Adesanya’s goal and mission is to provide you and your family with the highest quality dental care in a caring, safe and relaxed environment. Give our office a call today to schedule an appointment: 301-464-1800 or click here.

Dr. Adesanya addresses coronavirus concerns

Coronavirus – Dr. Adesanya Addresses it

Over the past few weeks, we have been closely monitoring and evaluating the situation regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus) to ensure we are taking the appropriate measures to protect the health and well-being of both our patients and staff. We are currently operating under normal business hours and treating patients as usual. We have always practiced universal precautions as a standard of care as recommended by OSHA, CDC, and the ADA.

In a continued effort to do so, we would ask everyone’s participation in self-screening before visiting our office. Please give our office a call at 301-464-1800 to reschedule if any of the below apply to you:

  1. Traveled outside of the United States within the past two weeks.
  2. Come in close contact with a person to have a confirmed case of COVID-19.
  3. A fever or respiratory illness, such as coughing or difficulty breathing or other flu-like symptoms.

If the above does not apply to you, we are still treating our regularly scheduled patients.  Should anything change, our office will let all scheduled patients know in advance, as well as post to both social media and our website.

We appreciate your cooperation and assistance during this time.

Additional Resources Regarding Coronavirus:

Please find below some additional links to resources pertaining to COVID-19 and the impact on the local communities.

For more information about the COVID-19, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
For information pertaining to coronavirus in Prince George’s County, Maryland, please visit: https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/3397/Coronavirus
For information pertaining to coronavirus in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, please visit: https://www.aacounty.org/departments/office-of-emergency-management/novel-coronavirus/