“You’ll never catch me using charcoal toothpaste,” DiFoggio said. “While it might make your teeth look whiter at first, charcoal is abrasive and can wear down your enamel over time ― revealing the yellowish dentin underneath. It’s a fast track to sensitivity and discoloration.”
She added that even non-charcoal whitening toothpastes can cause sensitivity if overused, so she uses them sparingly and always prioritizes protecting enamel. DiFoggio is also not a proponent of fluoride-free toothpaste.
“With so many myths floating around online, I see a lot of patients switching to fluoride-free toothpaste,” she said. “But here’s the truth: Fluoride is safe and effective, and helps remineralize enamel where early cavities are trying to form ― especially in acidic conditions where damage happens.”
A strong alternative to fluoride, nano-hydroxyapatite, doesn’t even perform as well against acid.
“Plus, fluoride-free toothpastes aren’t regulated the same way, so you don’t always know what you’re getting,” DiFoggio said. “Overall, not everyone needs fluoride, but if you’re cavity-prone, why take that chance?”
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
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