Natural Dental Care: Yay Or Nay?

A dentist weighs in on the natural oral-care debate, debunking some of the zanier practices out there!

- Kristy Brodly

To coincide with Dental Health Week, we chatted to Dr Peter Alldritt from the Australian Dental Association on whether you really can keep your teeth pearly white and healthy when using natural dental care products.

Activated charcoal

Charcoal is a hot trend right now. It’s in everything from toothpaste to toothbrushes and even floss. The idea behind using charcoal in dental care is that it will bind with toxins in the mouth to help remove plaque and bacteria. Dr Alldritt says there’s no strong evidence that it does your teeth any good. “Being an abrasive ingredient, charcoal also has the potential to wear away the enamel surface, which we know doesn’t grow back,” explains Dr Alldritt. “Abrasive materials make your teeth thinner, more sensitive and yellower.”

Coconut oil pulling