The unfolding of a beautiful smile begins with sparkly, aligned, and symmetrical teeth. But, not everyone is naturally blessed with perfect teeth. Technology, indeed, is a boon as scientific dental interventions enable people to attain an ideal set of teeth. Using braces is one of the most common ways to correct any dental misalignment. But, taking care of braces may be tricky, and you must be mindful of your oral hygiene habits. The type of toothpaste you use daily has a crucial role in the overall health of your teeth. The current trend in the market is charcoal toothpaste which has become the Holy Grail in teeth whitening. But does the grittiness of charcoal toothpaste harm braces? Is it okay to use charcoal toothpaste with braces?

Charcoal toothpaste and braces – are they compatible?

Activated charcoal is a powder made from wood, coal, coconut shells, and other natural ingredients oxidized under extreme heat conditions. The adhesive qualities of activated charcoal enable it to stick to staining compounds on the teeth’ surface, like coffee or cigarettes, and remove them. But, charcoal toothpaste can be abrasive. You can use activated charcoal toothpaste with braces, but caution is imperative. Overusing charcoal toothpaste with braces can lead to more harm than good. Applying gentle strokes with a light hand is necessary while using charcoal toothpaste with braces.

Furthermore, the brushing time should not exceed one minute. Also, among all the variants, you should opt for the gentler varieties of charcoal toothpaste with an RDA (Relative Dentin Abrasivity) score of 70 to 100.

The flipside of charcoal toothpaste and braces

While using charcoal toothpaste with braces, you may see color differences in the teeth after the braces are removed. Also, charcoal-activated toothpaste and charcoal powder can be messy, and it may require some effort to remove all the traces of the black toothpaste or powder from the teeth and braces. Thus, a better solution is to wait till the braces are removed and then use charcoal-activated toothpaste. Moreover, most of the activated charcoal toothpaste tubes do not contain the desired amount of fluoride – the ingredient which strengthens enamel and keeps gum healthy. So, those suffering from gum problems should avoid charcoal toothpaste with braces.

The optimal toothpaste for braces

Braces may cause some irritation and discomfort in the mouth. Thus, using moisturizing toothpaste becomes essential. Moreover, you should look for toothpaste with higher fluoride content as toothpaste reduces the probability of tooth decay around areas where the braces are in contact with the teeth.

Methods to take care of braces

You must brush your teeth after every meal – it is the best way to take care of the braces-clad pearly whites. Furthermore, meticulous strokes along the nooks and crannies of the braces become vital. You can also utilize a gentle mouthwash along with dental flossing to help remove food particles and tartar.

Thus, using charcoal-activated toothpaste with braces may pose some problems. But, being mindful of the precautions will, undoubtedly, make braces and charcoal toothpaste compatible. For more information on using charcoal toothpaste with braces, do discuss it with your dentist.

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