There's a difference between removing surface stains and whitening. Surface stains, also known as extrinsic stains, come from the usual suspects: coffee, red wine, tobacco, and dark colored foods and drinks. They live on the enamel layer and can generally be removed with toothpastes or surface whitening treatments. Deeper, intrinsic stains are dark coloring that comes from within the tooth, sometimes as a result of trauma, weak enamel, certain types of medication, and even overuse of fluoride. Think of these as the underlying color of your teeth; no matter how dedicated you are to whitening the surface, a major lightening of tooth color can only come from bleaching treatments that penetrate below the outer surface of teeth.

No. In fact, some toothpastes marketed at children don’t have enough fluoride in them to help stop tooth decay and children that get used to the more fruity tastes of children’s toothpaste often find it hard to move onto the decent, minty-tasting toothpastes that they will need later on. That said, up until six years old, children can use a low-strength toothpaste – as long as it contains at least 1,000ppm fluoride. From seven years old, children can use the same toothpaste as the rest of the family, provided it contains 1,350-1,500 parts per million (ppm) fluoride. Tartar feels rough because it’s porous. That means bacteria can slip down into those pores. Tartar usually starts out as an off-white or yellow color, but it can turn dark in a few circumstances. If you’ve got a lot of tartar buildup or it’s really stubborn, you may also need the next step. This is called root planing. Essentially, root planing is cleaning below the gumline, removing any tartar that’s built up along the roots of your teeth, and smoothing the roots out.

You can brush plaque off your teeth. A soft-bristled toothbrush, a toothpaste containing fluoride, and some diligence with brushing into all the nooks and crannies in your mouth can help you sweep away plaque before it can harden. Surfactant: Most Americans are accustomed to sudsy toothpaste. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) creates the foaming action in conventional toothpastes. Some dentists believe it helps to clean teeth and the mouth more thoroughly. Tooth powders also don’t contain ingredients that remove intrinsic and extrinsic stains. Neither do many toothpastes. Intrinsic stains are those which originate within the tooth, instead of on its surface. Joiner A. (2011). A silica toothpaste containing blue covarine: A new technological breakthrough in whitening. Juurlink DN. Activated charcoal for acute overdose: a reappraisal: Activated charcoal: a reappraisal. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2016;81(3):482-487. doi: 10.1111/bcp.12793

Avoid products that contain ingredients you’re sensitive or allergic to, such as flavorings, dyes, or artificial sweeteners. Some people are also allergic to cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and propylene glycol, two ingredients commonly found in toothpaste. Your gums may begin to recede from your teeth, and your teeth may start to feel loose. You might experience bleeding or pain. With severe cases of periodontitis, you can experience significant pain, especially while chewing, and you could even lose a tooth. Committed to the Join the Pipe charitable enterprise, Ecodenta supports the aim of providing clean water to developing countries in Africa and beyond. Johannsen A., et al. (2019). Effects of stabilized stannous fluoride dentifrice on dental calculus, dental plaque, gingivitis, halitosis and stain: A systematic review.

These whitening technologies are the most effective, according to a 2019 study that compared whitening toothpaste and technologies, including activated charcoal. Natural home remedies Smoking or using tobacco can stain your teeth and any tartar that might be clinging to your teeth or along your gumline. Tartar below the gumline Nayak PA, Nayak UA, Khandelwal V. The effect of xylitol on dental caries and oral flora. Clin Cosmet Investig Dent. 2014;6:89-94. doi:10.2147/CCIDE.S55761 Xylitol: Another beneficial ingredient often found in toothpaste is xylitol. It's a sweetener that “not only makes toothpaste taste good, it helps eradicate bad bacteria that cause tooth decay,”

Bondi CAM, et al. (2015). Human and environmental toxicity of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS): Evidence for safe use in household cleaning products. DOI:I always turn to the RDA level of a toothpaste,” says Joyce Kahng, a cosmetic and restorative dentist and owner of Orange and Magnolia Dental Studio in Costa Mesa, California. “Surprisingly, not all charcoal products have a high (abrasive) RDA. The issue is that the charcoal powders and toothpastes promote improper brushing, or aggressive scrubbing, and that combined with the charcoal product can strip enamel,” she adds. You have plenty of safe and effective options if you’re looking to whiten your teeth. Many options are over-the-counter whitening products endorsed by the American Dental Association (ADA). Charcoal-rich toothpaste, on the other hand, is a relatively new product on the market. Unlike regular toothpaste, charcoal does not contain chemical whitening agents or abrasive ingredients. Instead, it works by trapping the dirt and debris embedded in the tooth surfaces and the small pores in the enamel layer. Anecdotally, I have seen this [effect] quite a few times over [my] past decade of clinical practice,” confirms Dr. Ladner. “Patients who claim to be using charcoal toothpastes present regularly with visible ‘thinning’ of enamel, which is the primary protective layer of a natural tooth.” More research is needed on the long-term effects of charcoal toothpaste. A 2017 review warns that dentists should advise their patients to be cautious when using charcoal-based toothpaste due to unproven claims and safety concerns.

Whitening toothpaste can damage enamel if it’s overused or contains strong abrasives. Make sure to follow the directions for use. You can also look for a toothpaste that contains ingredients that protect enamel, such as stannous fluoride, sodium fluoride, or calcium phosphate. Is it safe to use whitening toothpaste daily? Furthermore, as there’s always a chance of swallowing some toothpaste while brushing, certain groups may need to avoid toothpaste containing activated charcoal, including pregnant and breastfeeding people and those who take oral contraceptives and other oral medications, such as blood pressure medications, diabetes medications and more. While no studies have specifically tested charcoal toothpaste’s effects on medications, activated charcoal can bind to medications and change their effectiveness when swallowed. Your health care provider can help you determine whether including charcoal toothpaste in your oral hygiene routine is appropriate for your medical history. Risks of Charcoal ToothpasteOnce plaque hardens into tartar, it gets a little more complicated to remove. At that point, you need a dentist to remove the tartar. This is usually a process referred to as a deep cleaning.