Harmful Dental Fads to Avoid

There are so many trends that come and go with the seasons and dental trends are no exception to this. This is why you need to be extremely cautious about what you use to optimise your oral health.  There are so many different products on the market and you need to be mindful of what you use. There are lots of different treatments, procedures and products, with companies happily promoting the latest fads.

It’s crucial to work with your dentist to get some clarity on these fad-products. The last thing you want is to get caught up in a harmful trend that impedes your dental health in the long term. In this blog, we outline some information about some popular dental fads out there at the moment.

Coconut oil pulling

This fad consists of rinsing your mouth with a tablespoon of coconut oil for a matter of minutes every day and the idea of doing this is to improve the brightness of teeth and your breath. Oil pulling isn’t used to clear bacteria from your mouth and there is no specific evidence that supports it benefiting your dental hygiene or oral health in any way so perhaps best to steer clear of this one.

Charcoal toothpaste

This one has certainly done the rounds online and without doubt, you have probably seen a few ads for charcoal toothpaste. It goes without saying that it looks a bit odd to see someone clean their teeth with a black, gritty paste that claims to whiten your teeth!  

With that in mind, toothpaste needs to protect your teeth and the outer layer of the tooth, this is referred to as enamel. However, charcoal toothpaste is pretty abrasive and can potentially cause enamel to deteriorate over time.

DIY whitening

DIY teeth whitening tends to be popular amongst those who want a white, shiny smile, without the price tag. However, a lot of these homemade treatments can be harmful. One common concoction is mixed lemon juice and baking soda to create a whitening agent. Lemon juice is highly acidic and mixing this with baking soda which is highly abrasive - could strip away your natural enamel. 

Established for over 60 years, Acorn Dental Health is a family-friendly practise that offers an extensive range of dental treatments for patients in Southampton. We have a friendly and approachable team of dentists and hygienists who provide excellent dental care services to both adults and children.

All of our treatments are competitively priced and we are transparent with our costs. We are mainly a private practice, but provide NHS treatments for children. To find out more about the services we offer, please feel free to contact us today, we’d be delighted to help with any enquiries you may have.