Charcoal-based Toothpaste Carries ‘ Real Risks ’

Ads often use phrases to make it seem like it is a natural or pure product. Scientists proved that phrases such as ‘organic,’ ‘eco-friendly,’ or ‘herbal’ were used to advertised 88 percent of charcoal-based products. Fifty-four percent used two or more of these words in their marketing campaigns. The analysis in 2017 discovered that 8 percent of the fifty kinds of toothpastes studied contained fluoride 96 percent claimed to help whiten teeth, and over 50 percent offered therapeutic benefits. Twenty-eight percent of the toothpastes had claims of low abrasiveness, along with antifungal benefits at 12 percent. Just 10 percent of the toothpastes had some form of endorsement by a dental professional, and none of the above claims have been proven. In addition to the attractive language, endorsements from celebrities are often used to attract consumers. “Much of the time the celebrity has had professional tooth whitening, and their white smiles are not a direct result of using the product. From a whitening perspective, there may be anecdotal evidence of their whitening potential but any effect they have will likely be superficial. Many toothpastes which claim to whiten our teeth are simply removing surface stains, and will not offer the long-lasting bright white smiles which many users may be looking for, or being promised through advertising,” warns Dr. Nigel Carter, CEO of the Oral Health Foundation. The new study results found that the charcoal-based products may be harming our dental health due to not containing essential ingredients to prevent tooth decay. Dr. Nigel Carter explained some charcoal toothpastes might be “over-abrasive” and wear away tooth enamel, which results in sensitive teeth.