Powdered toothpaste and why dentists don’t recommend it –

Have you heard about powdered toothpaste? Seen as a sustainable alternative to toothpaste (whose tube takes 450 years to decompose), it is normally composed of natural and/or organic active ingredients such as activated charcoal, mint, cinnamon, sodium bicarbonate, a mixture of herbs or dried and crushed bark.

Powdered toothpaste replaces toothpaste or tooth gel with the function of providing a pleasant taste after cleaning and helping to eliminate excess oral bacteria as in the entire brushing process.

The best-known products are those that promise to have an anti-inflammatory or lightening action based on activated charcoal.

“There are many types on sale today, with flavors such as spice or refreshing and also with indications, for example, for adults, children and for whitening. This must be carefully observed and care must be taken to avoid damage to the tooth surface” he explains. Claudia Christianne Gobor, dentist surgeon.

POSSIBLE DAMAGE

The damage to the dental surface that the professional mentions is due to the fact that activated charcoal — widely used as a “natural” whitening alternative — is extremely corrosive and abrasive.

It wears down the surface of the tooth (dental enamel) generating this feeling of dental whitening and may actually be causing tooth hypersensitivity and irritation in the mucosa.

FREQUENCY

Claudia points out that toothpaste (or powder) must contain components bioactive and bactericidal for better action. “But we must remember that the protection of oral health must be done with correct hygiene, which includes ideal brushing, whether with tooth powder or another vehicle, use of dental floss and, if applicable, rinse”.

CONTROVERSIAL INDICATION

Businesswoman and dentist Patricia Baptista has a divided opinion: “In my opinion, it can even replace toothpaste, because its composition is natural and theoretically poses no risk, but it is very important that a good brushing is carried out, and that flossing is not neglected. But it is important to remember that these dental powders do not have a scientific basis or studies that prove their effectiveness, so I do not recommend them to my patients.”

Henry Lanat, dentist at Dr. André Braz, is more incisive and does not think they are good products: “Thein addition to not bringing benefits, it can still end up being harmful to the health of the oral cavity. It is worth mentioning that there are no published scientific articles about such products”, he says, agreeing with Patrícia.