Recently many patients, especially college age, have asked us about the efficacy of whitening using charcoal products now available. We strongly recommend AGAINST using this method to whiten teeth. Although charcoal is abrasive enough to remove surface stain, it also is abrasive enough to permanently remove enamel. The harsh abrasives in charcoal can potentially remove the strong protective outer layer of enamel from the tooth. Once enamel is worn away it does not replenish itself, this can make teeth more sensitive to temperature, prone to decay and permanently remove enamels natural luster. We can recommend safe effective tooth paste and whitening alternatives that are available over the counter. Please see our website for more information on the professional tooth whitening options that are available at Ferguson Dental (http://www.fergusondental.com/…/Glo%20TOOTH%20WH…/index.html), or talk to you hygienist at your next scheduled office visit. The link below is the ADA’s review of natural teeth whitening approaches. Please always feel free to contact us with any questions you have; your healthy smile is important to us! https://www.mouthhealthy.org/…/az…/w/natural-teeth-whitening
