Thirty years ago, oral care meant brushing your teeth twice a day with a manual toothbrush and flossing; today there are a considerable list of dental fads people are turning to to brighten their smiles. From charcoal products that claim to magically whiten teeth to water flossers that bring dentist-level technology to your home. With any new trend, it’s tough to know if you can believe the hype. There can be an even greater uncertainty when it comes to trying new oral health products, because you could be doing more than losing money on something that doesn’t work. You could actually be damaging your teeth and gums. To help you avoid that, here’s some insight on the biggest dentals fads and if they actually work:
Activated Charcoal Products
Activated charcoal, the oxidized version of charcoal, is a hug fad for both the oral care and beauty industry. It’s popping up everywhere on the market and social media due to claims of major health benefits and healing properties. The miracle powder is making its way into a variety of products, such as facial cleansers, toothpastes, shampoos, soaps and masks.
When it comes to dental health, people are using charcoal-infused toothpaste and activated charcoal powder to try to naturally whiten teeth. The claim is that the activated charcoal absorbs plaque and other compounds that stain teeth, leaving the user with pearly whites. So can you trust it? At this point, the ADA believes there is no clear evidence to support the efficacy and safety of activated charcoal. Activated charcoal can actually damage teeth and enamel because of its abrasiveness. The best bet is to consult your dentist before trying activated charcoal products on your teeth. See what our own Dr. Adhikari has to say about about the trend here
Electric Toothbrushes
Electric toothbrushes have been around for years, but technological advancements and improvements have made them even more popular as of late. But are they worth trying? The answer is yes. The ADA has found that electric toothbrushes are just as effective as manual toothbrushes at removing plaque. In fact, electric toothbrushes offer some benefits that manual toothbrushes don’t, such as built-in timers, increased focus while brushing, easier use for those with limited mobility, and larger success at removing plaque. One downside is that electric toothbrushes can be much pricier, costing anywhere from $20 to $200 for brush heads. If you’re willing to spend the money, you can find some of the best (and dentist-approved) electric toothbrushes here. You may not have to spend the money if you’re a patient at Artistic Dental! Take part in our Make Us Smile giveaway every month and you could win an Oral B electric toothbrush.
At-home LED Light Teeth Whitening Kits
Teeth-whitening at home isn’t exactly a new trend, but LED light teeth whitening is. LED light teeth whitening, a bleach-based treatment, works by using wavelengths of blue light as an alternative to the potentially damaging UV light of other whitening treatments. Home-based kits contain lower concentrations of bleach than the treatment you’d get at the dentist. Ultimately, paired with whitening agents, the LED light is meant to speed up the whitening process, leaving you with whiter teeth in a matter of days.
It sounds promising, but before you hop on the bandwagon, you should be aware of some of the potential risks of at-home LED light teeth whitening kits. There can be sensitivity with any bleaching agent, so you should keep this in mind if you’re deciding to commit, especially if you’ve had issues before. Other potential problems that have been found from a study on LED whitening are pulpal tissue damage and possible discoloration between teeth and fillings. Explore your options and see what your dentist has to say.
Water Flossers
Some may not have even heard of a water flosser, but this untraditional flossing product has been getting rave reviews by users. So what is it? A water flosser is a handheld device that works to remove food and plaque between teeth by spraying streams of water in steady bursts. As far as the legitimacy of the product, water flossers have been deemed safe and effective by the ADA and given the Seal of Acceptance. This dental fad is ideal for people who have braces, hate traditional flossing, or have trouble with their hands. Interested in water flossers? Take a look at what’s the best on the market.
With any dental fad, it’s important to consult your dentist before trying. Our dentists, Dr. Dougherty and Dr. Adhikari, along with our staff are always happy to answer questions as well as suggest recommendations for oral care, such as professional tooth whitening. If you’d like to take advantage of our expertise and hear about the services we offer, visit us at our website or give us a call at (602) 840-5400.