Baking Soda, Charcoal and Other Toothpaste Additives: What Works and What Doesn’t?

Certainly toothpaste of any kind is better than candy canes for your teeth.  Today, all it takes is a walk down the personal hygiene aisle at any grocery store or drugstore and you’re bound to see dozens of different types of toothpastes.  Not just different brands and flavors, but toothpaste with all types of special additives and ingredients like baking soda, charcoal, fluoride and more.  What ever happened to regular old toothpaste?

If you’ve ever found yourself considering toothpaste with baking soda or charcoal, you’re probably a little skeptical.  Do these special ingredients actually work or are they another marketing gimmick?  It’s a valid question.  To give your teeth and gums the care they deserve, it’s important to know what works and what doesn’t.

• Baking soda: People have brushed with baking soda for decades and it’s long been a staple of specialty toothpaste formulations. Why? For starters, it’s linked to whiter, brighter teeth!  While it’s not yet approved by the American Dental Association (ADA), there are studies that show baking soda’s benefits for oral health.
• Charcoal: The newest, trendiest toothpaste additive, activated charcoal is meant to reduce staining and improve bad breath. Does it work? The jury is still out on this one.  Activated charcoal does have purported benefits for the body, but whiter teeth and fresher breath aren’t proven among them yet.  More studies are needed.
• Fluoride: There’s a mountain of evidence out there showing fluoride’s benefits for oral health! This ingredient has been part of toothpastes, mouthwash and even drinking water for decades, with proven remineralization properties.  Fluoride improves weak spots on teeth and can help protect against gingivitis, making it one of the most beneficial additives to toothpaste.  In fact, it’s hard to find toothpaste without fluoride!
• Peppermint: Lots of people prefer peppermint toothpaste because it leaves their breath feeling extremely fresh. But is there more to peppermint than fresh breath?  Peppermint is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, but there’s no evidence to suggest these benefits may carry over to your toothpaste.  Simply put: there’s not enough peppermint in toothpaste to deliver these benefits.
• Hempseed oil: You might do a double-take at toothpaste featuring hempseed oil, but rest assured, it’s real! Proponents of hempseed oil toothpaste claim that it has anti-inflammatory properties and that it can help balance the pH levels in your mouth, to reduce cavities.  Unfortunately, there are no studies to support benefits to oral health and many dentists remain skeptical.
• Essential oils: You don’t have to look far to find natural toothpastes infused with essential oils. Lemon oil, lavender and natural mint toothpastes are all hot on the market right now… but that doesn’t mean you should buy them.  Dentists caution against brushing your teeth with essential oil-infused toothpaste.  Not only are there relatively zero benefits associated with essential oils, the wrong combination or proportion could actually harm your teeth and gums!  Stick to the tried and true brands when brushing.

There are even more toothpastes with special ingredients – these are just some of the most popular and trendy right now.  If you’re curious about what works and what doesn’t, don’t be afraid to ask your dentist or hygienist or call or email Levenson Periodontal Associates.  The key is whatever you use – brush your teeth!